upcyclingmod: (Default)
upcyclingmod ([personal profile] upcyclingmod) wrote in [community profile] pedalbike2020-08-29 10:30 am
Entry tags:

First TDM: Sterile Blues


Welcome to the Test Drive Meme.
| Premise | FAQ | Full Navigation | Rules | Reserves |


Arrival



Not all characters (known as Wickie, singular or Wickies, plural) arrive at the same time, surprisingly enough! That’s life for you. Some Wickies find their way to the island at a pivotal (or very mundane) point in their life, or even after or during their death.

Wickies who were standing or walking often find themselves entering the town South Sister, located on Lighthouse Isle, through an open doorway. Those that were laying down, or sleeping, tend to be found lying prone in beds, bathtubs, showers, couches, and similar places within the cottages on Cottage Row. There’s no rhyme or reason to it all! To Wickies familiar with the era, they will realize that everything looks as if it’s come from the ‘90s.

The house which a Wickie finds themselves within could already be occupied. This includes walking into a fellow Wicke, waking up in the same location, or accidentally scaring a room full of people with their sudden appearance.

Oops.


Sterile Blues


After arriving, Wickes will find that food and water are easy enough to come by, as they can be readily found in the various houses which populate Lighthouse Isle. Medical supplies, on the other hand, are not so easily acquired. Bandaids and other simple trappings can be pilfered from the odd medical cabinet, but otherwise you’re on your own.

Thankfully, if a Wickie or their friend are in need of medicine or a pair of trauma shears, while you won’t find a full-fledged hospital on the island, there is a clinic. The clinic, named Sister’s Helpers, is like the rest of the buildings in town. Its appearance is well kept, and the doors are unlocked. Whether the Wickie goes in through the windows (because they can), or through the front door like most would, they’ll find that the clinic’s interior is crisp, clean, and orderly. There are plastic chairs, a desk where a receptionist would sit, white walls, but then—

There’s a sound. It could be mistaken for a breeze, at first. But as the sound goes on, it becomes more obvious that the ‘breeze’ is an exhale, prolonged and forced. At the end, there’s a murmur, professional and assuring.

“That’s good. Breathe.”

And with that, the clinic becomes awash in shades of blue. Sister’s Helpers itself hasn’t become warped in any way. There is only monochromatic coloring which, upon further realization, is not truly in the building, but a problem with their vision. Leaving without investigating further will mean having blue vision for the next twenty-four hours.

But for Wickies who choose to stay and explore, there is a chance at clearing their vision. This is is especially difficult for those who have a history of not taking care of their injuries. Gradually, it becomes more difficult to walk, as if there are weights on their feet. For Wickies are especially guilty of not tending to their wounds, their movements will become even more sluggish, and weight will settle on their arms and chest, forcing the worst of offenders into a crawl as they explore from room to room.

Laying on the patient beds will alleviate the situation for a short amount of time. The cure, however, will come from characters taking the supplies which they need for themselves and not for others.

If the Wickie fails this, over the course of an hour they will be crushed to death, and will eventually wake up outside of the clinic. Their vision stuck in shades of red with a weakness in their limbs for the next twenty four hours.

The Wickie’s only cure for that is either taking medical supplies for themselves or by doing some form of self care.


Ashes, Ashes


It’s the middle of the night when all the Wickies are jarred awake from sleep by the blare of a broken siren. Wailing into the dark, the siren functions as a foghorn might, warning of hazardous conditions to come. Beneath Wickies feet, the ground trembles, pulsating once. Twice. Three times. And again, and again until—

The world changes, and it is no longer the foggy island the Wickies knew.

Ash falls steadily from above, blanketing the ground, and at first glance it can be mistaken for snow. Whether by scent, by touch, or even by taste (an option for the brave, the bold, the few), the truth of the ‘snowfall’ can be easily revealed. It is strange, though, that there are no signs of fire in the vicinity. In fact, there doesn’t seem to be much of anything at all. There’s still no sign of the mainland. There are no buildings in this desolate place, either.

Lighting in this new landscape is hazy and sullen, but still conducive to exploring despite it being the dead of night just moments ago. But while Wickies walk, there’s a growing feeling of foreboding. There’s something… something else with them.

And it conceals itself in the ash.

It attacks by lashing out to grab at the ankles and the calves, attempting to drag the unsuspecting victim down, to somewhere far deeper and hidden by billowing piles of ash. It’s easy to save a Wickie from the pull, so long as they’re quickly freed from their assailants grasp. Retrieving someone out of the ash itself is nigh impossible, though.

Grabbed Wickies who lived to tell the tale, may find themselves bitten. The stalkers in the ash sink their teeth into the foot or calf of their prey, leveraging the force of their bite to take down their target. And once there’s blood, more of these creatures will be attracted to the smell.

If a Wickie is clever or strong enough to draw the stalkers out of the ash, they will find that the attackers are shark-like people. Most of their head consists of oversized jaws housing an impossible amount of teeth, and lacking any eyes. Their bodies are covered in ashen chitin and bone, with elongated feet and thin, taloned fingers. These Ash Sharks do not like being exposed, and will respond accordingly.

Ash Sharks cannot be reasoned with. Trapping one in ropes, magic, or other means will elicit angry shrieks which will attract other Ash Sharks, either to eat the trapper, or trapped, or both if they can. Being dragged completely under the ash will start a feeding frenzy, and the Ash Shark will proceed to rip and tear chunks out of its prey.

In dying, Wickies will reset to a random location within the ash filled fields, completely intact but for a purpling bruise where the initial bite took place.

Good luck.


Network Time: The Heart Game


There’s a beeping alert on all Wickie’s smartphones that refuses to stop until a particular notification is read. The notification is for something called the Heart Game (which, yes, looks annoying, overly bright, and cheesy). And surprise! The game opens up automatically with a loud ping!

The game begins (and ends!) with a question, one which will not go away even if you try to close out of it or shut off your smartphone. It reads:

It’s time for everyone's favorite game! Confession! Heeeeere is today’s question which you must confess!

What is… the scariest thing you’ve experienced? It can be anything!


code bases by tricklet
escardos: (onze.)

[personal profile] escardos 2020-08-31 04:42 am (UTC)(link)
Hmm...

[ even if he had meant it as a joke, it seems like his comment either flew over flat's head, or he was taking it seriously. cupping his chin with his hand, he thought about what to do. in a way, it's a rather comical scene--deep in thought while he was covered in his own blood.

deep inside, he realized that he couldn't feel the link that connected him and his servant. could it be that he had dematerialized at the time of his...death? whatever it was? it seemed logical, at least. even someone like him, who knew next to nothing about the grail war, could figure out that much. jack had already been in such a fragile state...

but-- ]


That's right! I'd be a bad friend if I just gave up on them right away, wouldn't I? So we should look for them! [ a beat ] Ah...but they can become anyone, can't they? But even if I can't recognize them, they'll recognize me, right?! So it's worth a shot!
foundheart: (The story about him having a girlfriend)

c!! likely Royal spoilers all up in here

[personal profile] foundheart 2020-08-31 04:44 am (UTC)(link)
Senpai!

[She's honestly not sure if she's more alarmed or relieved to see him, but at least he's safe and whole! For now. More or less. She jogs up to him, ignoring the glare and the harsh words--she's more than used to them anyhow by now, finding it easy to brush them off.

Her gaze instantly drops to his leg instead where she saw him grabbed.
]

Are you okay? I wonder if Cendrillon's healing would still work here...?
globs: (if in the hands of gods)

[personal profile] globs 2020-08-31 04:46 am (UTC)(link)
quick question! my character is not human, and generates poison from inside their body that has corrosive properties. would the ash sharks be hurt by this poison like other living things? and the secondary question is: would they still go after cinnabar even though cinnabar has no blood?
globs: (swirling fireflies)

heart game

[personal profile] globs 2020-08-31 04:50 am (UTC)(link)
[ let's handwave cinnabar learning how to use the phone. they're smart, they figured it out on their own!! but they type really slowly because they don't want to break it... it does seem a little convenient, after all. talking to someone through this device isn't as dangerous - or as scary. ]

What's coffee?
escardos: (quinze.)

[personal profile] escardos 2020-08-31 04:50 am (UTC)(link)
millions????????????

so you mean that you can be out on the streets and just see a human but theyre not actually a human theyre an android?????

awesome.
muffled: (walk the line)

[personal profile] muffled 2020-08-31 04:50 am (UTC)(link)
No, don't-

[ but just as he's getting his words out, a soft thunk can be heard from further inside the room. din turns his body toward it, though he already knows the cause.

toward the back is an open storage shelf, long and vertical, full of different types of supplies. there isn't a ton of things, but at least ever level of shelving has something on it to take. what hit the ground is a plastic container, probably full of various bandages and ointments. what caused it to fall... is a little green child with large ears sticking out, as it tried to climb to the second shelf level off the ground and failed.

it isn't distressed by its failure, but it is looking at both din and the girl from its spot on the floor.
]

... [ he turns his head to her. ] Don't photograph it. Please.
Edited 2020-08-31 04:51 (UTC)
sononizaki: ❀ sprite ( higurashi jan ) (pic#11537351)

[personal profile] sononizaki 2020-08-31 04:54 am (UTC)(link)
Alligators usually live near swamps, right?

[Note: she does not actually know this for certain because she literally does not have this sort of knowledge.]

Hmm...

It'd probably have to be granny's shouting.
Edited 2020-08-31 04:56 (UTC)
simulatio: (FKaF0OD)

here she is!!!!!

[personal profile] simulatio 2020-08-31 04:56 am (UTC)(link)
Yoshizawa-san?!

[Fuck. Shit. He can't afford to have someone to protect, and she's running up to him instead of away. Foolish girl.]

I'm telling you, get back-

[Is as far as he gets before an ashy creature smells blood and lunges up from beneath the ash, making for his already-injured ankle. He snarls and leaps back, sword slashing in a dizzyingly fast blur of red as the creature shrieks in pain, underscored by Akechi's own pained grunt.

Cendrillon's healing? He doesn't know what that means. She can't be a Persona-user, can she? Another creature rises from the ashes, and he wheels and stumbles on the injured ankle, the thing moving too quickly to block.]
escardos: (quatorze.)

[personal profile] escardos 2020-08-31 05:00 am (UTC)(link)
kinda sorta! they can live in rivers too (・∀・)

ohhh man actually i can kind of relate to that. i don't really know my grandmother, but my professor gets reeeeaaaaally scary when he's angry. he hits pretty hard ( ´△`)
foundheart: (Text me if something catches fire)

Arrival! I'm okay w/spoilers! let me know if you're okay w/them too from this end

[personal profile] foundheart 2020-08-31 05:00 am (UTC)(link)
[It's not like she was really being careful or quiet as she poked around the dilapidated house. Was this the metaverse? Her clothing hadn't changed from her school uniform, so maybe not? But this definitely looked like a Western-styled home. American? Hm...

The kitchen seemed to be in working order well enough, at least, and she's none the wiser to being creeped up on... Up until Abby pops up. Sumi whirls about with a yelp of surprise, her hand grabbing at her side for a weapon that isn't there, unsure if she should try summoning it or not. It's not a shadow she's up against, but--

A blue-eyed blonde with a gun? This was definitely America.
]

Wh-what?! Shouldn't I be the one saying that? That's not a real gun, is it?!
globs: (as we were dancing in the blue)

STEFANO!! arrival

[personal profile] globs 2020-08-31 05:01 am (UTC)(link)
[ "lost" is a very gentle way to put it, but, yes, they are lost. They don't recognize the buildings or their contents, they don't recognize the landscape, and they most certainly don't recognize the unfamiliar creature standing in front of them now. Cinnabar probably looks just as alien - small, androgynous, slightly too thin to be human, with red hair and eyes that reflect the dim light like crystal. Their gaze, when they meet his, is entirely that of an animal that's been backed into a corner, equal parts frightened and ready to fight. In fact, they appear to have only just exited one of the cottages (presumably where they woke up) and look like they're about ready to bolt for a moment - but they manage to convince themself not to run. ]

What -- what are you?

[ they try their best to sound intimidating on the chance that he's dangerous - which they consider very likely - but, mostly, they just sound hostile. ]
jailbirds: (i will break your bones)

beeeeee

[personal profile] jailbirds 2020-08-31 05:07 am (UTC)(link)
[ the set of footsteps that approaches from behind Akechi is slow, and staggering. he has plenty of time to react before his company turns the corner to find him, which she eventually does, leaning heavy on the wall. she is, by all appearances, a cute young lady around his age — pink clothes, little braids and flower clips in her hair, painted fingernails. with the startled look on her face, she seems almost delicate. but when he snaps at her, her expression twists into something sullen and irritated, and she opens her mouth: ]

What what. [ her snarl is no less vicious than his, even as her legs buckle and she has to go down on one knee, hissing a curse under her breath. ] You think you're the only person with the bright idea to steal shit?
foundheart: (After he finished he fell on the floor)

Arrival!

[personal profile] foundheart 2020-08-31 05:08 am (UTC)(link)
Hello?

[It's a girl's voice that answers from behind one of the run-down cottages, sounding equally as lost. After a few seconds the owner of the voice emerges, looking around in wide-eyed confusion. There was definitely someone--] Oh! [She spots Huaisang and looks relieved as she jogs over, giving his clothing a strange look. Not that she can talk, really, being in her school uniform after all.]

I was starting to think I was the only one here! ...Wherever 'here' is supposed to be!

HI HI!! it touches my heart so many people are excited to see him

[personal profile] freezeframes 2020-08-31 05:11 am (UTC)(link)
An artist.

[ Stefano realizes that most likely isn't what she means, but he gives the answer automatically. ]

... but, ah, how lovely. [ He admires the look of the other -- something that cannot be human. The beautiful shade of red that is the being's eyes and hair. Darker and redder than even how blood could look. It's truly captivating, and he takes a few steps forward even though the other sounds rather uncertain about his presence. ]

I have never seen a red so ... crimson before.
globs: (i will never fall down)

A! spoil me capn

[personal profile] globs 2020-08-31 05:11 am (UTC)(link)
[ oh boy, getting yelled at!! Cinnabar visibly jumps at the sound of her voice, looking about as surprised to see her as she clearly is to see them, and for a moment, they do consider running, immediately feeling the familiar guilt of being somewhere they don't belong - but reality catches up with them before it sinks in, and their lips curl into a frown, glaring defensively at her from behind wisps of prismatic red hair. ]

Is that how you always greet people?

[ bristly, as ever; with a standoffish attitude, they turn away from her a little, gaze resting on the unfamiliar furniture and appliances in the room instead. ]
foundheart: (I started to trust fall random people)

[personal profile] foundheart 2020-08-31 05:17 am (UTC)(link)
Senpai-- [She makes a frustrated noise at his command, fully ready to scold him about thinking he could go it alone-- they're part of a team! Reluctantly or not, he definitely was!!

But there's a flurry of activity, suddenly. The shark creatures are wasting no time it seems, and the first attack catches Sumi off guard. Akechi moves almost too fast for her to follow, but by the second attack she's ready and confident.

The rapier appears in her hands, her clothes flickering from her uniform to her metaverse clothing as the form of Cendrillon appears. The burst of light blasts the shark creature back before she hurries to Akechi's side and grabs for his arm.
]

Come on! We have to get somewhere without all this ash! [Inside a house, maybe?? She doesn't know but anywhere is better than here, right?]
illicitly: (youth - 20)

[personal profile] illicitly 2020-08-31 05:20 am (UTC)(link)
[Her clothing is very strange, indeed, but it's charming enough, he thinks. Not that Huaisang is really in a state to judge how anyone else is dressed. The relief to see another human being is mutual and he relaxes just a bit.

Breathe. Just breathe.

But oh, he stinks and she's cute and this really isn't the time to be noticing things like that, is it? He shakes his head just a bit to clear it.]


I don't know where we are either. I was s-somewhere else. Outside and there were arrows and people shooting at me. Then someone was talking and now I'm here.

[Oh, he's trembling. It's just been a really rough day.]
Edited 2020-08-31 05:22 (UTC)
globs: (why don't you open your blue eyes?)

A

[personal profile] globs 2020-08-31 05:21 am (UTC)(link)
... There's no one inside.

[ the voice doesn't come from beyond the door, but from a little ways away, where Cinnabar's standing at the corner of the building, poised to duck behind it. In fact, that's exactly what they were doing when they saw him coming. It hasn't been all that long since they woke up, themself, in this unfamiliar world with unfamiliar creatures, and they still don't know what to make of it - but they've lived long enough and seen enough of their comrades get taken away to doubt their safety at the moment. That said, this one immediately seemed less dangerous when they noticed the blindfold on his face.

They've always been soft. Watching him blindly knock on the door in confusion is a little too sad for them to just ignore. ]
simulatio: (039)

[personal profile] simulatio 2020-08-31 05:28 am (UTC)(link)
[His eyes sharpen into an unmistakable glare, even as he makes a conscious effort to keep from sneering at her. It isn't as though he's in much better shape than she is, after all, and it gains him nothing to alienate the people here. Just the opposite, really.

He inhales deeply through his nose, grits his teeth against a fresh wave of exhausted pain, and manages to force himself mostly upright.]


My... apologies, [he grinds out, and it's one of the harder insincere apologies he's given in recent memory. His lips don't quite manage the practiced smile, but he hopes he can at least manage to pull himself together enough to project himself as a protector, rather than a threat.

Are you alright is one of the baser questions to show concern when he does't really care, but the answer is obvious. Neither of them are. And while he'd like to argue that it hardly constitutes stealing when the entire town seems to be abandoned, it's so obnoxiously difficult to get air into his lungs that he's left wheezing out a breath and getting straight to the point.]


Then shall we simply... ngh, find what we're looking for and get out?

[They've made it this far. There's no way in hell he's leaving empty-handed. One hand braced against the bed, he offers his other to her in a gesture of calculated kindness to help her to her feet.]
binghua: (1)

[personal profile] binghua 2020-08-31 05:28 am (UTC)(link)
[A voice answers him, but not from inside, and apparently if this voice speaks true, then he's bothered no one. That's a good thing, if nothing else. Xingchen steps back from the doorway - and a doorway that has a rather flat threshold, he notices - and turns his head toward the approximation of where the speaker is.]

Then I hope I haven't bothered you in my confusion.
foundheart: (The story about him having a girlfriend)

[personal profile] foundheart 2020-08-31 05:30 am (UTC)(link)
[She opens and closes her mouth a couple of times, not entirely sure who or what she's staring at at first. One of the shadows in the metaverse? Some of them had very human appearances, and some could be terribly pretty. Either that or an actor from a period drama?

The cloth around his eyes also gives her pause, making her feel kind of like an ass. Was he blind??
]

Y-yeah, I guess so. But...How did we even get in here in the first place?
simulatio: (T6mWc43)

[personal profile] simulatio 2020-08-31 05:32 am (UTC)(link)
[That's Joker's outfit, he realizes with a start. If not exactly like it, than damn near close enough. The flicker was unmistakable, and that form behind her is undoubtedly a Persona. So not just Joker and his friends, but even someone like Yoshizawa possesses the same powers he does...? What a cosmic joke.

He'd like nothing more than to tear these ashen creatures apart, limb from limb, but he doesn't know what Yoshizawa is capable of. So he snarls a curse under his breath and shakes her off, turning to instead point with his free hand.]


That house there, go!

[And he starts staggering that way, keeping his weight off his injured ankle as much as possible.]
gravescholar: (u sure)

[personal profile] gravescholar 2020-08-31 05:44 am (UTC)(link)
[ It takes him a few moments to clear his throat, to suck in some air without another coughing fit. He had been fine before but the deeper he moved into the building, the more the pressure pushed down on his lungs. It would make him laugh, even as he closes his eyes, grits his teeth and pushes against the pressure to at least be shakily upright. ]

If you're sure... there's a couple things that looked like they might be what I need.

[ Nodding at the one shelf filled with strange earthen bottles stoppered with wax and cloth, he takes a step and then freezes at the rattling sound, focusing his attention at the door. The armored person on the bed wasn't reacting and he grew up around people who trained some interesting animals as companions, so maybe... ]

Companion of yours?
Edited 2020-08-31 05:44 (UTC)
extinctive: (let me inside)

1

[personal profile] extinctive 2020-08-31 05:45 am (UTC)(link)
That you did! Frankly, I'm surprised you were able to get up on your feet with how you're losing so much blood.

[ flat sure is lucky that a doctor just happens to be there where he landed. although figaro looks a tad worried at flat's condition as any man in his profession would, his curious-looking eyes already giving him a once-over. ]

Let this good doctor take a good look at you. Are you dizzy in any way?