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test drive

Test Drive Meme 2.1

CW: seizure warning

Test Drive 2.1

Welcome to your tutorial.

For this Test Drive, you are welcome to select any role(s) you please. However, the roles played here will not necessarily carry over into the game itself. If you would like to keep your TDM threads canon despite this discrepancy, you may. From an IC perspective, the TDM is a ‘tutorial’ in which the characters are introduced to their setting, and learn/teach others the mechanics of the game. It will terminate after two weeks whether or not the plot has come to completion.

You wake up in a small town, your bed warm but your body cold. A faint blue light fades from your room, the remnants of the system printing you into your new setting. The ringing in your ears will soon be replaced by a soft, inhuman female voice. “Hello, and welcome to Corwin, Indiana. The year is 2008, and while technology has not completely reached this place, you have been provided with a cell phone at your bedside. Please pay close attention to the upcoming instructions regarding your role.You are not permitted to discuss your role with anyone, at any time. Obedience ensures an enjoyable and immersive experience for our audience. We hope you enjoy your stay in this idyllic town.

Everyone in Corwin will be given a role. Most roles will be simple. Some will be a local: someone who was born and raised in this town, with no intention to leave. Maybe you’re still in school, or maybe you own one of the district’s many fine, small businesses. Others will be tourists: those staying in Corwin for a quiet vacation away from the hustle of their home cities. They may experience some culture shock in the small town environment, but they’re eager to explore the quaint opportunities this hamlet has to offer. More specific roles are available below, and build atop of the roles mentioned above.

GENERAL PROMPTS

Cold Nights
Here in Corwin, there’s no reason for anything to stay open much past 9 pm. The next day comes bright and early, and most residents of this town dedicate themselves staying well rested. Unfortunately, this means there are no services at the hotel front desk after hours. If you’ve lost your key, you’ll just have to find other lodging until the morning. Trying to catch some shut-eye streetside is risky - at this time of year, the weather can dip below freezing at night, frost dusting every surface come morning. Locals aren’t spared the headache, either. Those irresponsible enough to stay out late and lose their own keys won’t have much luck calling the police station for help. Ostensibly, there’s always someone on-call, but it seems the night shift officer prioritizes his sleep as much as everyone else. You’re either stuck outside, or left waking your neighbors with a knock at their door.
This is the Only Bar in Town
Corwin has four streets, and only one bar. A source of community for the adults of the town, the bar is located in a cozy venue, filled with wooden furnishings. Here, any spirits can be purchased without judgement, and enjoyed at the bar and small tables alike. For entertainment, this bar possesses a single old Sinbad™ pinball machine, a pool table, and a dart board. No need to ask the bartender for the equipment, it’s right where the last folks left it. Overall, there’s nothing to boast of here, other than the unshakably consistent friendly service and the odd smell in the bathrooms.

However, with the holidays approaching, the bar is advertising its weekly “Holiday Trivia Contest”! Compete in a tournament to prove your knowledge and win a chance to take home the town’s largest, locally raised turkey! If that’s not enough to entice you, there’s also a $250 cash prize to go along with it.
Make a Wish
The center of this small town is adorned with an old, stone fountain. With clear waters lit up by holiday lights, the display is a comforting sight for locals and tourists alike. Surrounded by stone benches, this is the perfect location to stop for a rest.

A plaque on the fountain reads: Make a Wish - all donations flow back into the community. Flip in a coin and try for yourself. Superstition says managing to land your coin in the very top basin of the fountain ensures your desire will be met. Many have tried, and most have failed. The biggest pool of the fountain is littered with coins, some of which aren’t from around here. Of course, you wouldn’t know that unless you’ve gone and fished them out, would you?
Send to 8 People
Some receive the message during the day, and others in the dead of the night. The sender has been blocked, leaving only a cryptic message:

(1/2) in two weeks the one u love and thinks ur cute will kiss you at 8pm...to come tru u must send this message to 8 other ppl in the half hour you read this

(2/2) ...if not bad luck will fall upon u… i got this message and knew it was fake but it wasnt and i failed a test and broke my arm….u have 30 mins!!!

What appears to be a silly child’s prank is easy to dismiss for most, except the bad luck mentioned in the text is very real. Those who do not send the message out within 30 minutes will soon be met with a terrible misfortune - whether that be being forced to pay for a round of drinks or slipping on a patch of ice and injuring themselves. Next time you get the message, think twice about ignoring it.
Wildcard
In addition to the prompts above, please feel free to check this setting’s information page. All areas currently described there are accessible, and may be used in TDM threads. We will be adding more to this page when the Corwin plot officially begins on December 1st, 2018.
TUTORIAL ROLES
Vandal (Local or Tourist): At least once every twenty-four hours, you are compelled to graffiti some part of the town with the above image. There is no artistic ability required for this role - once you have selected a location, your body will move by itself to adorn the town with this illustration. If you do not complete one mural a day, you will begin to suffer consequences. Additionally, as you are breaking the law, you must avoid being discovered and/or being apprehended at all costs.

Buddy Cops (x2) (Locals Only): A pair of police officers are on the case of the recent defacing that threatens to ruin the small town’s pristine scenery. One of you is incredibly offended by the gall of this serial vandal, and the other isn’t very interested in doing much other than staking out and eating snacks. Despite this dynamic, you are both determined to catch this perpetrator one way or another, and book them for their crimes. Failure to pursue the criminal will result in consequences. In addition to this particular case, you are charged with addressing any other crimes or public concerns in Corwin.

Drunk (Local or Tourist): You have a terrible headache, but the only way to alleviate your pain is to drink. A lot. You have an open tab at every establishment that sells alcohol, and somehow they allow you to add as much as you like to it. Your alcohol tolerance isn’t altered by this role, nor are the consequences of drinking too much. It’s all a balancing act: drinking the right amount, and staying standing.

Relentlessly Suspicious (Local or Tourist): You cannot resist any opportunity to arouse suspicion about yourself. You will never outright claim to have perpetrated any crimes, but you may make sympathetic comments about the vandal, allude to your huge spray paint collection, or be caught loitering near crime scenes without an alibi. Your propensity to act sketchy-as-hell is not limited to the current vandalism plaguing your town - for example, you may find yourself making comments only a kidnapper would make. Failure to raise eyebrows or passing up an opportunity to leave suspicion in the minds of others will be met with consequences.

Gossip (Local Only): You act as if you know everything there is to know about everyone in this town. Maybe you do - you certainly know more than most. You cannot resist a chance to eavesdrop, or to ask intrusive questions. Once armed with the town’s juicy secrets, you must spill them. This may be in conversation, in fliers posted around town, or in mass-texts sent from a blocked number. The means of communication doesn’t matter. If you try to keep a secret, or do not pursue an opportunity to learn more about another, you will suffer consequences.

In addition to these roles, you may take up ownership of any of the local businesses mentioned on the setting page.
SETTING GLITCHES

Too Close for Comfort - You are unable to speak without touching another person. The contact does not need to be skin to skin, and you do not need to touch the person you are talking to. Without this connection, you are mute, and must rely on other means of communication.

Midnight Midnight Midnight - No matter how hard you try, you cannot sleep. Night after night, lying down leaves you restless. Fatigue will occur in waves, sometimes overwhelming, and sometimes replaced by a state of ‘slap happy’ mania.

Please, I’m Starving - If you see or smell food, you will be unable to resist the urge to eat it. Whether it’s on your plate, across the room, or behind closed doors, you cannot stop until it’s gone. You’ll never get full, though eating will sate your immediate hunger until you’re exposed to food again. If you go too long without food, you may begin to fantasize about eating inedible things, such as interior decor, rocks, and other people.

These Hands are Stained with… - Any color you touch will stain your skin, like a layer of spray paint. Skin to skin contact will always dye your skin whatever other color is present, however, you can remove the blemish by establishing contact with someone unaffected by this glitch, or washing your hands in (clear) water.

I’m Sensitive - You are 100% more likely to cry as a result of any elevated emotion. Happiness, sadness, rage - all sentiments above a baseline normal will cause tears to well in your eyes. You may simply choke up, or you may begin to bawl, depending on how predisposed to crying you usually are, and on the severity of the emotion.

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Buddy Cop

[ Oboro is taking his role as seriously as he imagines everyone else must be. Which is, incredibly seriously - he doesn't care for this situation, but there's no point in struggling against what's been so completely imposed on them. He dons the police uniform without hesitation, the modern (but still frustratingly analogue) vest weighing on his shoulders.

In full uniform, right at 8 a. m. sharp, he proceeds to the precinct's shared office. His supposed partner has been absent since he'd arrived, and he doesn't expect anything different today. Working alone suits him best - there's no one else to screw things up.

A thought he dwells on almost pleasantly as he pours himself a cup of coffee.
That's when you come in. Either through the door a few minutes late, or already settled at your desk. The sight of a new member of the team makes Oboro's face scrunch, brows knit in preemptive frustration. He'll set his cup down - gently, the way someone cleans a knife - and stand in greeting.] What's your assignment?

[How friendly.]

Cold Nights

[On patrol alone, most certainly in overtime, Oboro walks the streets of Corwin as if he himself has something to hide. It takes a criminal to catch a criminal, or something - more like he doesn't know how not to be Extra. From one shadowy awning to another, Oboro stalks from corner to corner of the town's square.

Anyone he sees there will immediately be considered suspicious. There's no curfew, but people out at night seldom are up to any good. Those in company will be left with nothing more than stern surveillance, but anyone alone will be approached.]

Everything alright here? [Terse, because he doubts it!]

Too Close for Comfort

[Being rendered unable to speak isn't such a bad condition for an assassin. Any noise is a detriment to the practice, even a rushed breath could reveal one's position and ruin a mission. But here, in Corwin, Oboro is a policeman.

The job description only overlaps sometimes.

Now, he couldn't be farther from his typical position. Stuck walking around town, stopping anyone he can to inquire about a lost family pet. It'd be tragic if Dolly the terrier didn't come home for the holidays.

So far he's getting people's attention by gesturing, and then holding up a picture of the dog. That seems to do the trick for most, but so does his immediate surrender to 'nope, haven't seen it'. Oboro has walked away from everyone before they could make any further suggestions.]

[Out of all the roles she could have played this was the one they picked for her; police officer? God save her this really was a nightmare. Who would have guessed the stupid career test would be right? That or someone knew how to mess with her, even here.

Still she gets how the rules are in this place. Sure the scenery might be new but the rules applied all the same as they did last setting. You either play the role given to you or there are consequences. Horrible consequences.

Which is why, though she's ten minutes late walking in, she's still there, grumbling to herself as she adjusts the radio strapped to one of her uniformed shoulders.]

Stupid crap. Stupid job. Stupid place. Stupid everything. [Buffy's muttering to herself in frustration, clearly unaware of her partner until she's about to plow right into him.]

What? [She questions looking up. Fortunately she's able to stop just short of bumping into him. Realizing what he's asked she shrugs.] Oh. [A little nicer sounding this time.] Vandal catching. Yours?

[Late, and distracted, Oboro has to wonder what it is exactly this woman brings to the force. Potentially, nothing - she's likely the same as him, forced into a role by some higher power.

He's thankful for a role so suited to his skill set, even if it requires a bit more patience than he's accustomed to having with coworkers. If this woman is dedicated, then despite her potential shortcomings, he'll work with her.

They're partners, after all.] It seems we're on that case together.

Have you reviewed the file yet? [He asks, though he assumes not, already crossing the room to pull the manila folder from its drawer and hand it to her.]

[ The sudden voice frightened him and Atsushi dropped his binoculars to the alley below. He was half-way up a fire escape. ]

“E-everything's fine! I was- I was just enjoying the night air! And um, birdwatching! Yes, that's- I was birdwatching!”

[ He was shouting at a police officer. This was in no way a good situation. And he was going to make it worse. The last time he didn't pester someone with questions, he found out what 'consequences' could mean and he was not inclined to experience that again. ]

“Do you like birds, Officer, um, what's your name? Do you patrol here every night or do you switch off to other areas of town? Are you married? What are your hobbies?”

[Plastic and glass clatter to the gravel - Oboro can't discern what fell other than it was a black something. Heavier than a gun, though no less suspect. Especially with the way the boys jumps when spoken to.

There aren't exactly many birds flying around.] Mm?

[Oboro humors the terrible alibi and glances around. Why? Because Atsushi is terribly lucky.

This serious cop, ready to kill, does like birds.] It's too late for birds. Even crows won't be caught out wandering.

[He takes another step closer, towards the stairs of the fire escape.] Come down from there, and we can talk. [The flurry of questions is certainly suspect - Oboro doesn't consider the possibility that this guy is just a very novice bird watcher.

Though it's a cute thought.]

Edited (html gomen) 2018-11-26 03:06 (UTC)

[ Birdwatching. Yes, that was stupid. Atsushi certainly wasn't going to tell a cop what he was really doing out there, in case it was misconstrued as vigilantism. ]

“The owls are still out, Officer.”

[ Owls. He was going with owls. He wanted to run before he came up with any more pathetic excuses. But if he didn't climb down and 'pursue an opportunity to learn more' about Oboro, well... he didn't want to think about that. Atsushi descended to the alley with only a slight feeling of apprehension; this guy wasn't really as intimidating as he'd thought. ]

“What kind of donuts do you like?”

[Oboro takes that correction into true consideration. But owls prefer fields with high trees and low grass, not city alleys. Regardless of whether this boy truly considers ornithology a hobby or not, he's clearly a novice.

Not that Oboro has the time to teach him what's what.

Neither does he have the patience to tolerate any stalling. Luckily for them both, the suspicious boy descends, hesitation clear on his face even in the darkness of the night.]

Hm? [Bribing a cop with donuts, now, is he? Oboro's eyes narrow, and his measured sigh is betrayed by the fog of his breath.] I don't care for them.

Where do you live, boy?

[ The cop looked irritated, like the idea of donuts personally offended him. Or maybe it was the assertion that every cop spent their days eating them and riding around town trying to fill quotas. ]

“If you don't like donuts, what about cake?”

[ Where did he live? He hadn't been back there in over a week, but it had to be one street or the other. It was 50/50. ]

“I live on Green Street. How many uniforms are you issued? Where's your partner?”

[The onslaught of questions continues, a chattering sound not unlike the nervous chirping of a bird. It isn't endearing, though possibly only because of the dubious situation this boy's been found in.]

I don't issue the uniforms. [As for his partner...

Oboro's working alone right now - though he won't be admitting that. Just in case that somehow this kid's a threat.] I'll be taking you home, let's go.

[He gestures towards the opening of the alley, absolutely intending to leave whatever the boy dropped behind.]

[ Usually people completely ignored his questions, or answered all of them. They didn't pick and choose. Oboro was obviously dodging any discussion on the whereabouts of his partner. They must be short-handed or had some bottom-of-the-barrel rookies. Which would explain the continued unanswered phone calls Corwin residents complained about. ]

“That's alright, Officer. I can find my way home.”

[ He tried to look as innocent and innocuous as possible, because he had no intention of going 'home'. He was going to the bar to tell people about the sad state of the police force and insinuate the phone issues were due to an absolute lack of professionalism and budget mismanagement. The binoculars were completely forgotten in the midst of rumor-crafting. ]

[ It's a dog. A little dog with its tongue sticking out with a bow on its head. The kind of dog his friend would get really excited about. (...Well, that's any dog.)

Yet Genis is more concerned about the severe-looking man holding it. He looks like some sort of law enforcement... And since he's some sort of law enforcement officer, Genis knows he should do something suspicious. He's not supposed to "resist" an opportunity...

...But he also can't shake the thought that if he does come across as suspicious, something a lot worse than some vague "consequences" will happen to him. ]

It- It's cute.

[ Shakily... Please go! ]

[Unfortunately, 'it's cute' isn't the sort of information Oboro is looking for. He doesn't blame the boy, though - he's a child, and all Oboro had done is show him the picture.

But because he's young, it'd be even less appropriate to invade his personal space.

Taking up more of his time, however, is a necessary part in the search for this missing family member. They want her home for the holidays, as the owner had tearfully noted.

Oboro stands staunch, offering the picture closer and pointing to the dog. As if this clarifies anything.]

[ Yeah, yeah, he gets it- and suddenly the light outside feels a bit too bright for him, even with it being overcast, and he ends up squinting at it. This is a consequence for not saying something, isn't it? But still... ]

If- if I did see it, it's not like... [ It's not like I'd tell you? That sounds kind of aggressive- ] ...I'd be the only one. I bet a lot of people remember seeing it around.

[Gintoki is at his desk "early" by pure accident. In fact, he fell asleep there in a drunken stupor the night before. The a

Gintoki is at his desk "early" by pure accident. In fact, he had fallen asleep in a drunken stupor the night before. The door to his "home" was locked tight, and instead of attempting to fight it - he decided to simply go to his new "place of work" and make himself at home there. Thus, the man drooled and snored with his head back, boots propped up on his desk.

The addition of a new body in the room has him stirring. He wipes at his leaking mouth with his forearm, blinking sleepily at his surroundings...

Only to freeze as he recognizes just who was helping himself to a pot of coffee as if he'd worked in this precinct for 10 years already. His brows twitch downward, and he shoves his rolling chair from his desk.]

Oi, oi, oi. What's this? Did you break out of a cell here or something? Yo... you're under arrest!

[There was no way this guy was a police officer! Not at all! You can't just go from trained assassin to tax-grubber...! That's... That's not allowed!]

[This.

This is unacceptable.

The white demon isn't the only man in the world with a mat of hair or a wide set back. Oboro is testament enough to the diversity of Edo's population, much less the people the programmers have filled this town with. He doesn't immediately assume he's been joined by the last person on earth he wants to see when he fetches his coffee.

But it tastes especially bitter, sipped through taut lips.

When Gintoki wakes, and spouts off some nonsense, Oboro can't bring himself to stare. He turns away, a glance cast to the rebel before he scrolls idly through a file folder.] You're a disturbance to the workplace.

Leave. [Spare him, and yourself, this quagmire of an interaction.]

['A disturbance to the workplace.' Gintoki mouths this gem, brows knit as he watches Oboro stroll to the filing cabinet in true police-thriller-style. Damn, for a nuisance of a man - he sure was taking this role seriously.

Though he supposed this man was only capable of taking things gravely.

His chair creaks as he leans forward, feet thumping to the ground as he rights his posture.]

They assigned me here. You... You are supposed to be anyone's ʙᴜᴅᴅʏ? You?

[The file Oboro's currently flicking through contains pictures and testimony of the supposed vandal defacing the town. A few sketches - all wildly different - pad the information they have. None of it conclusive, of course.

But he doubts Gintoki could contribute much of anything to the case.

That's why he balks at the idea of working with him. Or, at least, that's the reason he'd give any concerned member of the force.

It's valid enough.] You're better off with your Odd Jobs. [Face still buried in that folder, barely keeping his tone professional.] If the precinct needs you, I'll send someone.

[Now LEAVE!]

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Test Drive Meme 2.1

Test Drive 2.1

GENERAL PROMPTS

TUTORIAL ROLES

SETTING GLITCHES

Oboro | Gintama | Buddy Cop OTA

Buddy Cop

no subject

Cold Nights

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Too Close

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Buddy Cop

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