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returnjourneymemes2022-02-01 02:13 pm
returnjourney) wrote in returnjourneymemes2022-02-01 02:13 pm
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TEST DRIVE 002
RETURN JOURNEY: TEST DRIVE 002
Welcome to the Return Journey's test drive meme! We appreciate your interest. Our TDM features a small sample of events your character might encounter in game, which you're free to embellish or improvise with your own ideas as desired. Don't worry if you haven't read everything yet; while we recommend skimming our FAQ for relevant questions, critical information should be contained or linked within the prompts themselves!
TDM threads can be used as samples for applications. Players can mutually keep threads as game canon after being accepted into the game, though threads featuring non-canon squalls or events may need to be adjusted.
We suggest putting your character's name, canon, and potential role (warden or inmate) as the subject. If you're not sure which role you want to choose, feel free to try your hand at both!
If you have any questions about the TDM, please ask here.
1. Welcome Aboard!
Welcome aboard the SFS Peregrine, a ship in the Admiralty's Transformative and Penal Reparation Fleet. It is presently circling the outer perimeter of the Oos Ring Galaxy.
Wardens have been approached personally by the Navarch with a job offer: Come aboard the SFS Peregrine to assist in the redemption of an inmate, and receive a miracle known as a windfall as payment. Even if you don't ask as many questions as you should, every warden will be treated to a short Warden Orientation video explaining their expected duties and conduct.
Inmates have died and been placed aboard the SFS Peregrine as candidates for reformation. You may have come willingly, offered a choice between death or redemption, or you may have been collected against your will. Inmates are also treated to an Inmate Orientation; you'll find you have less privileges than a warden, but more motivation for...latitude. Violence? Chaos? Bribery? Blackmail? Well, no one said the path to redemption was without a few bumps along the way.
Given staff shortages, some wardens may be asked for a favor. Rather than leaving directly for the Peregrine, you've been asked to pick up an inmate from the limbo between death and redemption. During this mission, wardens will have clearance to enter a snapshot of sorts, where the inmate died (so devoid of other living beings). You either have to talk them into willingly coming along...or bring their unconscious, fresh-from-death not-corpse with you in the Avro provided. Better hope they don't wake up on the way!
Inmates, in this case, you'll be presented with the choice of death or redemption from a warden rather than the Navarch. Or possibly not provided with a choice at all, if death has rendered you unconscious. Good luck when you awaken to find yourself in a small ship, with someone you've never met. Try not to cause any trouble.
2. Pairings
Pairings are a critical aspect of the dynamic between warden and inmate. While interactions between wardens and inmates are not restricted to those in pairings, this relationship is a bit more...inescapable. Inmates test the limits of a warden, whether they take a more typical or unusual approach to matters; likewise, wardens learn what makes an inmate tick (and hopefully cooperate). Chances are, your values will clash.
A pairing of any sort is as varied as the individuals involved in them. And today, courtesy of the Navarch's monthly announcement, you and your sorry partner have been paired. Temporary or permanent, with a warden for an inmate or an inmate for a warden, it's your first day together — out of at least a month, so good luck setting some ground rules and figuring out each other's breaking points.
3. Life on the Peregrine
Hey, inmates! Ever gone to summer camp? Had a sibling? If so, you might see where this is going. If not, welcome to your first experience with shared sleeping arrangements!
The dorms are lined with bunks, though maybe they're better described as pods: futuresque capsules stacked two high, with sleek white paneling and cool blue LED lightning. Each bunk can be closed off with a sliding door privacy and boasts a bladeless fan for temperature control. Bedding is adequate. If such modest conditions do not appeal to you: consider not committing crimes against other people.
And just like with siblings or summer camp, you don't get a say in who your bunkmate is. Maybe you'll luck out and get a light sleeper who doesn't toss and turn in the night. Maybe you won't, and you'll end up with someone who will kill you if you snore. Whoever you get is who you're stuck with until further notice!
Wardens get much more hospitable quarters, but they may want to keep an eye out on the inmate dorms. Just in case an inmate does try to kill their bunkmate.
4. Squalls
Occasionally, the ship passes through squalls, the equivalent of cosmic turbulence that can mess with little things like, say...the fabric of reality. These are shipwide effects, though who they hit is variable. Sometimes you might fall victim; other times you might be the one standing by, exasperated, as you deal with those affected.
(In other words, it's up to player discretion. And feel free to make up your own squalls!)
This time around, the squall comes with an interesting side effect: whenever you lie or someone lies to you, you experience an immediate rush of anger — whether you consciously know someone is lying or not. Think of it as a temporary lie detector, but instead of being hooked up to a machine, you might punch someone in the face.
5. The Peregrine
The Peregrine's layout and protocols have been designed with its intended passengers in mind, who are primarily Earth humanoids and inclined towards certain social and cultural practices. If you're wondering why you are on a ship of Earth humanoids despite not being one yourself, please understand that all ships in the Admiralty have a population capacity. At times it may be necessary to assign other species to a ship of this type, based on availability.
As a warden, you have full run of the ship map. Inmates...less so, but that's nothing a little creativity can't fix, right? Just remember, if a warden catches an inmate somewhere that inmate shouldn't be, it falls on the warden to handle the matter. And if the warden turns a blind eye...well, let's hope neither of you get caught. While it won't result in anything as extreme as a demotion, wardens can expect to get a stern dressing down; inmates, meanwhile, will be reprimanded by the warden who found them.
6. Networking
Now that you've powered on your CommLink for the first time and sat through the short tutorial and appropriate orientation, you're ready to explore the wonders of messaging. Video, audio, or text, the world is your oyster and you surely have opinions on it.
There is no anonymous option and IDs must be some variation of your name. (IC, characters will have to try their luck and see what the communicator will or won't accept when they register; OOC, it's up to players to decide what name to use if the character has multiple names or aliases.)
Wardens have access to a group network filter, something that inmates lack, and can track inmates throughout the ship with their CommLink. Inmates, best avoid getting your device confiscated or monitored.
7. Wildcard
If it's in our game pages, you can use it as a prompt! The sky's the limit.
no subject
[ Lucifer scoffs, eyebrows going up. ]
No, I was going to say that almost the same thing happened to me. Except worse, because it was my own Father who sent me to Hell.
I’m Lucifer, by the way. Lucifer Morningstar. And you’re lucky to still have your life - the people I help back home are already dead. Just saying.
no subject
[people are born. Volk JUST woke up. whats happening.]
Okay? Fucked up?
[Sorry about your, childhood, he guesses?
Lucifer Morningstar. Venus Venus. VERY elvish name. Shrikes especially are always Fred Beta-Aquarii or Allison Canis-Major or something.
...It IS very, very culturally weird for an elf to give you their star name when they first meet you, he'll grant that. Plus, no pointed ears and no feathers. Though, as a human with an Iron Steppes last name, Volk guesses this is probably some kind of, internalized racism happening to him, or something? God, he doesn't have time to police his own privilege right... fucking now, at this exact instant. He would love coffee. Coffee would absolutely rock this fucking venue.]
You have to stop saying odd shit for a second. Y - [He makes a vague, muzzy gesture that indicates how confused he is.] You have to.
[He holds up a hand-]
I appreciate... admitting that I am not, in fact, dead. Congratulations. First one.
no subject
[ All the time in the world, as a matter of fact. ]
And I can certainly answer some of your questions, if that'll make you feel better.
no subject
[That's not an option. He's aware. He can't even get his prescriptions.]
Just -
[Volk takes a deep breath.]
Let me tell you where I am with this whole situation. I don't think we're in space. I've never believed that I'm dead. And I have a lot of evidence that -
[He falters. Frowns. How does he put this?]
That you and I are both here... because we think unusual things are real. Or, or about ourselves.
[He pulls his knees up to his chest.]
How many times have you done that spiel and someone didn't believe you?
no subject
Oh, I'm very used to not being believed.
[ He's the Devil, after all - and he's never made a secret of it, to anyone. Most people don't believe him. ]
So, what unusual things do you think are real?
[ Lucifer still has the impulse, to say more: to say of course we're not in space, we're in the liminal place between universes but that probably wouldn't be helpful here, and talking more about himself right now probably wouldn't help, either. No, right now, it's best to just prod and see what his new inmate has to say. ]
cw: mentions of ableism, gaslighting, and institutionalization
[Let's keep going and ...and then that'll make sense.]
I think we're here because you can do anything you want to delusional people and no one will believe them.
[And ... he lied. He knows which unusual things he thinks happened but probably didn't. He's had time to think about it. He's had a lot of time to do nothing but think about it.
Because they're not dead. And they're not in space. And everyone's born. And there's no time travel, and no ghosts, and no walking across Antactica in bare feet - all things he's heard from people.
There's just rows of beds, and food that's portioned to be eaten without anything sharp, and "wardens" who are just as trapped as the inmates. There's just fake windows where no sun gets in. There's just the dehumanizing rote speech about how the world is better off without them, and then never seeing the people in charge again. There's just a lot of things. And no one else recognizes it, because he's the only one that's already been here.]
no subject
[ How interesting. Lucifer has, of course, been told he's delusional many times, by many different people. He has never heard of the opposite, however: someone who believes they are delusional despite everyone around them trying to convince them otherwise. Fascinating. ]
So none of this is real? It's all in your head.
[ Lucifer isn't agreeing or disagreeing with Volk about this. Just trying to get a grasp on what he's thinking. ]
no subject
[The most vehement he's been, not just in this conversation, but almost all month. He's gone from mostly sleepy to bulldog snapping at the end of a chain near-instantly.]
It's not in my head. You're real, everybody here is real!
[He hits the side of the cubby-bunk with his fist, makes the panel produce a sharp BANG.]
I don't make up people! I've lived with this for ten years, that's not what it does with me! Everybody here is fucked up. Everybody here thinks they're fucking aliens or time travelers. YOU AREN'T. You're not special.
[Years and years of bitterness in there. It comes out as a snarl.]
You're not the one that gets to think you're Napoleon and have it be true! Why the FUCK would yours be true? You're like me. The only difference between you and the balding woman who thinks she's Saint Sacrifice is that they let you keep your suit.
no subject
You're right, I'm a lot like you. Though, I could never think I was Napoleon. He wasn't that short, but he was a lot shorter than me.
i was so close to fitting a "not today, satan" joke into this tag
[Volk leans way back.
Volk grabs a bottle from a side shelf, dry-swallows a pill, then closes the sliding door to his bunk as if that will help this situation in any way.
No, no, no thanks. Goodbye.]
someday... I BELIEVE IN U
[ He belatedly realizes it's his bloody wings out, and sighs as he tucks them away again. He knocks on the door. At least he does knock! ]
I thought you weren't supposed to have drugs of any sort? Look, I hate to be the fun police, but this is my job.
[ And then he just breaks the damn lock off and opens the door. Yeah, sorry, Volk. In addition to having huge-ass wings, Lucifer has super strength. ]
he doesnt know what satan is its Tragic
[THE DOOR!?
He crams himself back against the far corner again. Okay, the wings possibly he imagined BUT NOT THE DOOR.]
IT'S PRESCRIPTION! I DIDN'T FUCKING TAKE IT THIS MORNING AND SHIT WAS GETTING TOO WEIRD!
[THIS SUCKS IT'S SCARY IT SUCKS!!]
truly unfortunate
He holds up his hands. ]
All right, calm down. Gosh, I'm not going to hurt you. Look, I'll take your word for it about the pills, for now. Just... calm down. You'll hurt yourself if you get anymore worked up.
[ He's pretty sure this is what Doctor Linda would characterize as a setback. SIGH. ]
Look, I'll see you tomorrow, all right? Remember to breathe.
[ Annnnnnnd then he's gone. ]
cw ableism mentions
[Aaaaand he's gone.
Volk shouldn't have told this guy a ny thing. Anything. Anything. Fuck, this was a bad idea.
Volk spends at least an hour spinning out catastrophe scenarios. Lucifer on the network, telling everyone that Volk is fragile and that his brain doesn't work. That he's not safe, or competent, or smart, that he can't and shouldn't be independent.
Volk spends a little time tunnel-vision hands-numb icewater-in-chest panicking.
He has to hit this from another angle tomorrow. He has to.
He starts research. Who has Lucifer talked to on the network, so far? What's he like?]