returnjourney: (Default)
The Return Journey ([personal profile] returnjourney) wrote in [community profile] 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.


reek: (Default)

Theon Greyjoy | A Song of Ice and Fire | Inmate

[personal profile] reek 2022-02-01 09:13 pm (UTC)(link)
1. Welcome Aboard

[ Theon thinks he must be dreaming. He’d been passed out for a good deal of the journey, coming to just in time to catch the end of the tail strange iron bird’s speech. If there was an agreement to be made, he missed it. Someone else made it for him. He thinks he catches something about doing better? Theon did the best he could. He hadn’t wanted things to turn out how they did. How could he have possibly done better?

He can recall what happened last in vivid detail: the sickening crunch of a mailed hand to his face, the heat of the flames, sheer destruction and chaos all around him, Smiler with his mane ablaze, then nothing—only black.

So, is he dead?

No, he decides, drowning out the iron bird's squawking even further. Whatever its saying isn't nearly as important as what's going on in his head. Someone surely would have rescued me. Luwin, Asha, someone. I’m dreaming. It’s a lie he has to tell himself to keep from slamming his head against the wall. He knows he was all alone by the end. His sister wasn’t coming back and his father wasn’t sending reinforcements.

He rubs his cheek, still feeling the pain of a broken cheekbone. He’s not bloodied, he isn’t even burned, but he is bruised and covered in sooth and ash. If the person across from him, be it inmate or warden, should open their mouth to speak, he’ll be quick to cut them off:
]

Does it look as though I wish to speak to you?

2. Life on the Peregrine

[ The confines of the Peregrine leave Theon feeling a bit claustrophobic. To a young man who spent his childhood around ships, this is not a ship. It’s almost offensive to call it such. There’s no spray of the ocean, no salt air, no screeching seabirds, and no way out.

Theon is also used to more luxurious accommodations. He’s been a prisoner half his life (the irony of it all is something he has to laugh about), and yet he never found reason to complain about his bedchamber in Winterfell. Although perhaps not as large as those of the Stark children, it had been warm and well furnished. This looks like little more than a hole in the wall, cold, impersonal and sterile. Not even a fur in sight! He cringes when he sets eyes on it.
]

I would rather sleep on deck.

[ Should have thought about that before you killed people, bud. ]

3. Network

un: greyjoy

The rest of you agreed to this?

I didn’t agree to this.

This isn’t even a ship.


[ Just…in case you hadn’t noticed. ]

4. Wildcard

[ Pretty chill with just about anything. You can find me at [plurk.com profile] muttonchops if you want to hash anything out. ]
aposeme: (but we still dial 9-1-1.)

3 ( text | jvolkhov ) HANNAH! <3

[personal profile] aposeme 2022-02-01 09:44 pm (UTC)(link)
THANK YOU

why in the hell would they launch prisoners into outer space. nobody's been able to tell me why that makes sense when its 100 x harder and 1000 x stupider than just putting us in a BUILDING ON THE GROUND

who is paying for it. who paid to build a space station. the fucking owl?? how does this place make money
nineteenfortyfive: (HOSPITAL)

1

[personal profile] nineteenfortyfive 2022-02-02 02:53 am (UTC)(link)
[Maybe one day she'll find an inmate that is grateful. Today is not this day.

Claire's mouth hangs open for a moment before she shuts it, lips pressed into a thin line. She could bite back, or take the high road. After a breath, an attempt is made:]


You look like hell, actually.
kaijuice: (pic#15423665)

1

[personal profile] kaijuice 2022-02-02 02:57 am (UTC)(link)
It looks, [ Crouched a pace away, gaze steady; assessing. ] As though you've spoken too much already.

[ He reaches to smear a finger — ungentle — across Theon's shattered cheek. ]
reek: (pic#9976583)

HELLO FIRE!!

[personal profile] reek 2022-02-02 03:05 am (UTC)(link)
[ These...are not the questions Theon cares to know the answers to. He's never actually had to worry about money, or where his money is coming from, or whether or not it's going towards a space-prison. ]

What makes you think I have any of those answers?

Whatever it is and however it's funded, it isn't a ship.


reek: (Default)

here we go again...

[personal profile] reek 2022-02-02 03:47 am (UTC)(link)
[ Today is not the day, and Theon is not that inmate.

He glares at her, or tries to. Truth be told, he still feels and looks a bit dazed. Maybe it’s from Ramsay’s knock to his face, or maybe it’s from the wealth of information he’s just been presented with and can’t fully comprehend. All he knows is he doesn’t appreciate Claire’s comment, or even the fact that she’s here at all.
]

And you think you look much better?

[ She does, obviously. He’s just angry and confused. ]
nineteenfortyfive: (BURDEN)

destined to meet over and over

[personal profile] nineteenfortyfive 2022-02-02 03:55 am (UTC)(link)
I don't look like I just lost a fight.

[Which might be a little too cruel, considering his position. Claire doesn't apologize, but she does shake her head.]

Are you all right?
aposeme: (but we still dial 9-1-1.)

[personal profile] aposeme 2022-02-02 05:20 am (UTC)(link)
No, I know that. I'm saying nobody knows these answers, and it's like nobody cares. It's like no one gives a fuck that none of this makes any sense.

It's not a ship.
reek: (Default)

[personal profile] reek 2022-02-02 07:18 am (UTC)(link)
[ Maybe it’s the pain that causes him to move so swiftly, but the way he swats this man’s hand away is immediate and forceful.

But his expression is confusing, to say the least. He grins, wide and toothy and sly, like he knows something that no one else does.
]

It looks as though I’ll bite your finger off if you touch me once more.
reek: (Default)

[personal profile] reek 2022-02-02 07:18 am (UTC)(link)
[ He mumbles something—it sounds suspiciously like, “that’s what you think”. He’s miserable and angry and in pain, and he refuses to be the only one who feels that way.

He snorts, and he smirks, sly, but somewhat brittle behind it all. It’s obvious that it’s a painful move, and he’s cringing through it. Why he feels the need to smile right now is a mystery. It’s what he’s always done.
]

I’m fine. I’ll wake up soon enough.

[ Keep telling yourself that, Theon. ]
gallowsbait: (sly grin)

Greyjay Gallowsbait ➷ Tabletop OC

[personal profile] gallowsbait 2022-02-02 10:03 pm (UTC)(link)
➷ Welcome Aboard.
Whatever it was that killed Greyjay (...again), left him out cold until he wakes up on the ship. He comes to slowly, pointedly not moving until he has a sense of who else might be nearby. Wherever it is, it smells wrong, or rather it doesn't smell much of anything at all - sterile, no horse, no sweat, nothing but nothing. Unnatural.

Might as well bite the bullet and sit up, calling out in a clear, sweet voice: "So skipper, where are we headed?"

➷ Pairings.
Greyjay isn't sneering, not precisely, but he coolly assess whoever and whatever poor sod has been assigned to him. "Rules then. Whatchu want?"

➷ Wildcard.
Greyjay is going to do as much exploring and poking his nose in as he can. He wants to see everything, poke most things, and probably lick too much for anyone's personal comfort. He's loud, rude, and comfortable with brawling and violence.

He is also probably going to be really damned hungry and happy to eat whatever looks good. Did he swipe your sandwich? (No, because now that it's in his mouth, it's not yours, is it? Suck it.)

And, of course, if you want to set up something else, I am here and happy to chatter. PM this journal or hmu on plurk/Discord (bootknife or Bootknife#7474).
kaijuice: (pic#15313765)

[personal profile] kaijuice 2022-02-02 10:59 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Theon bares his teeth, and Silco's lip curls in answer; approving, maybe - or just amused. Isn't this all hideously nostalgic? ]

Try it, then.

[ Elbow still propped to knee, he reaches out once more. Palm up, open. A dare: Take it, or take a bite. ]
kaijuice: (pic#15374357)

wildcard; this is k2 lmk if anything needs changing, i'm easy

[personal profile] kaijuice 2022-02-02 11:11 pm (UTC)(link)
"What a charming surprise," Thunk. Silco shoves the bunk's sliding door into place, stare fixed withering on Greyjay. "To receive a visitor before my return."

The bunk? His bunk, Silco's bunk. There's nothing important here - none of the fucking things lock. There's still reason enough to nip this in the bud.

(His bad eye twinges, brief, in the direction of the pillow. Why does it look like someone was licking it -)
gallowsbait: (Default)

[personal profile] gallowsbait 2022-02-02 11:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Rude, he wouldn't lick someone's pillow! That's weird. Okay, well, he would lick someone's pillow if it was useful, but this wasn't and he didn't. (Probably.)

"Shit, sorry man, I didn't know it was yours." Greyjay wriggles upright and scrubs at his face from where...ah, where he'd been drooling on the pillow in his sleep. Sure, maybe this guy is just posturing to be the big dog, but that's fine, Jay knows he's a follower, not a leader.

"Lemme get out of your way, okay?"
grindset: (15390263)

viktor / arcane / warden

[personal profile] grindset 2022-02-03 02:30 am (UTC)(link)
1. brand new

[Here is a warden. This one's as fresh as it gets. He is pale, gaunt, distinctly asymmetrical in posture and, thus far, seems a little uncomfortable to be anywhere.

This warden, he's been more or less mesmerized by the CommLink since it was given to him, eyes alight and face awash in blue (of course it's blue, it should be blue, it's miraculous). The shape, the negligible weight, the smooth hinges—this screen—it's the most elegantly fabricated device he's ever held. What are these materials? How did they make a motor so tiny? There's a storm on the horizon for that owl: a storm of technical questions that are almost certainly irrelevant to what he's actually meant to be doing here.

Finding it difficult to effectively navigate the UI one-handed, he has now stopped, crutch under his arm and kit bag on his shoulder, and is standing directly in a doorway. Maybe that's how one encounters him—who left this weird scarecrow here, it's blocking traffic—

or maybe it's when he's messing around with the camera (there's a camera in here??) at eye level, pivoting on the spot, and a face suddenly fills the screen.]


Oh... sorry, I didn't, eh... excuse me.


2. little machines

[This warden, he's moving down some lonely corridor in slow pursuit of a three-unit convoy of the Peregrine's autonomous cleaning devices. His attention is fixed, his footfalls quiet, the foot of his crutch less so.]

Where are you off to, I wonder.

[Obviously they don't answer.

After a suitable period of non-interference, he overtakes the last in line with a couple of longer strides and carefully stops it with his foot; listens, hunched and squinting, while the motor strains; releases it to catch up with the rest. In a moment he's after it again, this time to raise the little caboose with his toe, leaning to glimpse the whirring undercarriage—]



3. short-term besties

[This warden (called Viktor, surely he's been introduced by now), he's slipped away to explore by himself. Again. It's fine, as far as he's concerned, since any sensible onboarding will have a grace period; besides, there's a lot still to see. Aimless mingling can happen later. (Never would be fine too.)

The inmate dormitory resembles stacked shipping containers fashioned into homes—or some sheltered dreamer's sanitized idea of that. Doesn't seem so bad, really. It does feel tacky to play tourist while there's someone here, but oh well. They'll all have to get used to each other at some point. Still, to be courteous:]


Feel free to ignore me—just looking.

[—And looking again, and then down at his CommLink, mouth turned down and eyebrows raised.]

Hm, [is soft, high in his throat: how about that.] It would seem I've just been assigned to you.


4. wildcard

[Something else? Something else.

Hello, world! Will match format, can be found on plurk @ abyssal if you have any thingies to thingy, etc, you know the drill.]
nineteenfortyfive: (MATRIARCH)

[personal profile] nineteenfortyfive 2022-02-03 04:49 am (UTC)(link)
[Oh, no. Not another Volk. Claire sighs, not sure if she can handle all these (two) inmates that seem to not think this is real.]

Do your dreams usually hurt?
reek: (Default)

[personal profile] reek 2022-02-03 06:11 am (UTC)(link)
[ He doesn’t particularly want any part of this man near his mouth. It just seemed like a decent verbal threat. His head is swimming and dream or not, these are very close quarters; not ideal for a fight. Theon is already on the losing end anyway.

He sneers, teeth still bared in that strange, off-putting smile.
]

Get away from me.
reek: (Default)

[personal profile] reek 2022-02-03 06:12 am (UTC)(link)
[ Yes, he thinks, but the pain is usually less physical and more mental. He has terrible dreams, and they’ve been more frequent as of late. It isn’t a reach to assume that this might be one of those dreams. ]

Is that any of your concern?

[ He doesn’t even know who this woman is or why she's in his dream. ]
reek: (Default)

[personal profile] reek 2022-02-03 06:13 am (UTC)(link)
How long have you been here?

[ It must have taken a bit of time to compile all those questions, after all.]
myagents: (alert)

Counselor Aiden Price | Red vs Blue | Inmate

[personal profile] myagents 2022-02-03 05:41 pm (UTC)(link)
3. Life on the Peregrine
[Price feels a certain uneasiness knowing that he has to share a sleeping space - he was in prison just before arriving to this new one, he knows how dangerous people can be. The good news is that it is scientifically proven that sleeping in the same room as someone else will strengthen your bond with them, so it's all about starting on the right foot.

He inspects the pod with his hand: the inside feels cozy enough, and the sliding door works properly for now. Oh, someone just walked in.]


Greetings.
Edited 2022-02-03 17:42 (UTC)
grindset: (15390184)

3; id: viktor

[personal profile] grindset 2022-02-03 08:20 pm (UTC)(link)
What would you call it?
rank1: (Destruction - Joywave)

[personal profile] rank1 2022-02-04 02:08 am (UTC)(link)
[Travis walks in wearing low-rise, ratty jeans and a towel slung around his neck. He has spent the past hour meticulously drying his hair in the style of his preference. His eyes are obscured by his bright pink aviator sunglasses. His resting bitch face is... well, what it is.]

Hey.

[He isn't one for handshakes, so he just heads right to his storage trunk, which he begins rifling through for a shirt.]

New guy?
kaijuice: (pic#15423596)

2 - ciliatic isnt a word but humour me. also just lmk if u need more of a hook friend

[personal profile] kaijuice 2022-02-04 07:22 am (UTC)(link)
Its companions scuttle on, through the narrow hall and around a corner; ignorant to the straggler's absence.

The robot beeps soft — less protest than a register of its altered position, no longer ideal to scurry and sweep. Tiny brushes scoop ciliatic into its mouth, as though to scrub Viktor's very breath of dust.

Even the air shines here.

Crunch. Abrupt, metallic. Another impact (hard), and the exhale of something sharper; human. The alcove about the corner is dim, distant from the constant fluorescence of more-trafficked halls.

But somewhere in it, there's a glint: Light on aluminum, a blaze of refracted orange.
Edited 2022-02-04 07:23 (UTC)
dealwiththe: (090)

lucifer morningstar | lucifer | warden

[personal profile] dealwiththe 2022-02-04 04:15 pm (UTC)(link)
[ ooc note: his canon point is post-series, so he’s essentially a walking spoiler for season 6. ]

1. Getting his bearings.

[ Lucifer can be found casually strolling the ship - he’s learning the layout, figuring out where everything is, and generally getting his bearings. He spends some time in the observation deck, taking in the view, lost in thought.

Eventually, he finds his way to Warden Command. Hey, a minibar! He gets himself a drink, still poking around. ]


I don’t suppose we could get a piano here? It might lessen the 2001: A Space Odyssey vibe.

2. Pairings.

[ He’ll meet you where you are - observation deck? Mess hall? Whatever. It doesn’t matter to him. All he’ll do is look you over, eyebrows raised. ]

Well, let’s start with: why do you think you’re here?

3. Network.

I suppose introductions are in order. I’m Lucifer Morningstar, and I’m your newest warden. I know, try to contain your surprise. But I’m perfectly willing to answer your questions! Consider me an open book.

4. Wildcard.

[ Got another idea? Hit me! ]
Edited (Damn typos) 2022-02-04 16:16 (UTC)

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