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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
[ Yep. Simple as that. ]
It's a much better system than letting them torture themselves for all eternity.
[ He sets his glass down and starts inspecting the rest of the minibar. Look, he just really wants to know what liquor they have! ]
And I didn't need any incentive to come here. Navarch asked me if I'd like to be part of this, and I thought it was a good idea. I can help someone here - perhaps more than one someone - maybe have a bit of a challenge, improve my skills in the process, and when I go back I'll hopefully be even better at it. It's my calling.
[ That is the absolute truth of the matter. He had to be pressed to name a price, and when he did, it was a small one. A pittance, a token. ]
no subject
Hell is real where you're from?
[ Yeesh. Some universes really do sound awful to die in.
He's just... here to help? Out of the goodness of his heart? Of which he has one, apparently? PRESS X TO DOUBT. But what does it matter? He's there. So is she. Both wardens. ]
We'll be working together, I guess.
...I'm Grace.
[ She declines to offer a handshake. ]
no subject
[ He pops his head up from the minibar when she finally says her name - smiling his friendliest smile. ]
Grace! Pleasure to meet you. And yes, we're colleagues. Another reason why I decided to come here, actually. Back home, it's just me. I haven't got anyone I can consult.
[ He did have a consultant, or will, eventually. But not for a while. ]
no subject
[ Her stare swivels back to the pile of notebooks and reference texts at the desk where she'd been working. ]
We're trying, but. It's hard, when none of the inmates actually believe you want to help them. As if we'd leave everything behind and come here for any other reason. Half of them don't even believe any of this is real at all.
no subject
He approaches the table, glancing over the books and papers she has there. ]
We're all fuckups, one way or another. My only qualification to be a therapist is that I spent the better part of five years in therapy. But what we all have is different experiences and knowledge. Different perspectives.
[ That's what he's talking about, that's what he meant by consult. ]
The disbelief, the lack of trust - incredibly common in Hell. Most people don't realize they're dead. It's like trying to wake them from a dream, pulling them from their Hell loops. And then - why should the Devil care about them? Why should I be trying to help them? I get those questions over and over. It takes patience, and proving yourself trustworthy. Nothing happens overnight.
no subject
A supernatural level of patience is definitely going to be necessary. You should've seen what happened when I suggested group therapy.
It, um. It didn't go well.
[ She tries a smile-- it doesn't quite look right on her face, of course, but there it is regardless. ]
no subject
I imagine not.
[ Glancing through the books, he pauses at one title, something he recognizes from Doctor Linda's office. His fingers brush the cover, almost wistfully. Then he snaps out of it. ]
Patience, and honesty. You have to be honest and straightforward, or the minute you try to hide something from them or get cagey, whatever trust you've got built up will be broken and you'll be back at square one, or worse. And, ultimately, it has to be their decision to work on themselves. Some may never choose to. That's not necessarily our fault, if they don't.
no subject
[ Some more than most. Speaking of which. ]
...Please don't tell anybody else about all the stuff I just said. Most people don't know I'm... unstuck, and it'd be hard to get any inmate to trust me if they know I can walk through walls. Or... anybody at all.
no subject
[ He raises his eyebrows at her questioningly. ]
Look - I'm not going to tell anyone that you're a ghost, or undead, or whatever you call yourself to describe whatever it is you are. But I will say this: if you actually do want to help anyone here, you almost certainly will have to tell them what you are, and what you can do. If you don't, they'll find out some other way, and then, as I said, whatever trust you've built up with them will be gone - possibly for good. Much better to go into it with their eyes open to what you are.
no subject
People who find out what I am usually run away screaming. Or worse.
[ In point of fact, it's extremely surprising that he hasn't said anything about her whole terror vibe thing thus far. Maybe he doesn't sense it, since he's not a human. Maybe he doesn't recognize her as wrong at all.
That's a hell of a thought. ]
Either way it's kind of counterproductive to taking care of inmates. You'll understand. None of them are going to believe you when you say who you are.
no subject
But he laughs at her words. Stands up straight, genuinely chortling. Does she even realize who she's talking to? ]
Yes, I know. No one believes me. And when they did? When they saw my monstrous side? Oh, some of them did a lot more than run away screaming.
[ His smile fades. He doesn't say this with any relish. The nostalgia is gone. He's certainly not saying it with a sneer or an evil grin or anything. He's just a guy, who's been around for a long time, seen a lot of things, explaining a simple truth to Grace. ]
I've driven humans insane. Sent them to their deaths. Caused them to try to kill me. The woman I love most in the world - my soul mate, you want to know what she did when she realized the truth? She ran off to Europe, got mixed up with a crazy priest and a plot to trap me in Hell for eternity. And I'd always told her what I was! She just didn't believe me, and I was too cowardly to give her the proof she needed. Tough for us to bounce back from that one, let me tell you.
[ He's going to pour himself another drink, actually. ]
Anyway, the point is, it's really hard to be open with people, but if you're going to help anyone, you need to be prepared to do it.
no subject
[ Kind of a noncommittal answer to A Lot Of Heavy Information, but. Look, people don't usually talk to Grace this much, and when they do, they CERTAINLY aren't quite so forthcoming with personal details. She's processing. ]
...I just think you're gonna run into a lot of trouble getting them to believe you, that's all. You can tell them the truth until you're blue in the face, but if you can't prove to them that their situations are what they are, they're gonna believe what they want to believe. Which, in most cases, is that they're innocent squishy babies who've never done anything wrong and this whole thing is unjust and we're all just their evil jailers.
And then you've got the wardens, and that's a whole other thing. But I'm sure you'll do fine!
[ Thumbs up! See? She's got high hopes! ]
no subject
[ He's - as he said - done this before. He's been both on the couch, and in the therapist's chair. In more ways than one. Is she not hearing him?
To be fair, he is an over-sharer, generally. ]
And yes, it's ultimately on them to decide. Some of them may never come 'round. There's nothing we can do about that. But some of them will, eventually. Those are the ones we'll help. It's hard, and it takes time, but personally? I have nothing but time.
[ He looks her up and down. ]
If the rest of the wardens are anything like you, you'll need my help as much as the inmates. Good thing I'm here.
[ Ah, that angelic ego. ]
no subject
Sounds like you've got everything under control.
[ And she pointedly turns back to her example inmate schedules, trying to ignore the throbbing in her brain, and the sickness in her gut. Fucking angels. ]
no subject
[ He's just going to muttermutter to himself and go for more liquor. It's not like he can get drunk. ]