returnjourneymemes | TEST DRIVE 001

RETURN JOURNEY: TEST DRIVE 001

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. Accidents and Sabotage

A. Lights Out

As everyone knows, when it's lights out in a prison...interesting things can happen.

Whether a natural fluctuation from traveling through heavy space debris or something more unnatural (maybe it was you), the power has gone out. While life support continues to function, it's pitch black and any areas usually locked to wardens are left with doors open. It's the perfect setting for a riot, breaking and entering, thievery...your general crimes, petty and otherwise. Wardens, of course, are expected to stymie these efforts, but that doesn't necessarily mean they'll succeed. What's a little chaos between friends?

Our apologies if you happen to be in an elevator when the power dies.

B. Invasive Species

Being in space, sometimes space things happen.

Somehow (and hopefully you or someone you know isn't responsible for that "somehow"), a greater lunar tetacocien has gotten on board. Quite a feat, since they're the size of a rhino, but they have an impressive ability to squeeze through anything large enough to fit their beak. Unfortunately venomous, carnivorous, and native to the starstuff of Oos, the creature needs to be rounded up before it destroys anything (or anyone) aboard the ship. Please do not attempt to eat; the flesh is toxic.

The multi-legged predator can be immobilized with shots from an energy weapon... Too bad inmates can't carry them. Time to improvise! Or steal one, if you're canny enough.

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!)

A. Truth Bomb

One week, those affected cannot tell a lie. Wardens and inmates alike can only speak the truth, though it varies whether they blurt out a response to any question asked or can keep mum.

B. Stuck Together

Another week, you're stuck together. Travel any farther than two meters from your buddy and you'll experience intense physical pain. There isn't anything visible to this connection; it isn't something you can sever (not that this means you can't try). So have fun with your group activities and try not to kill each other.

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Alex heard the crash, and sighed...then headed in the direction it came from. Mostly because he was curious what was broken. The sobs though, had him dropping his quieter-steps and moving a bit more quickly. The voice had him fast-walking.]

You break anything?

[If his memory was right, this was near the elevators. Moving towards the metal doors. Hands out and testing, trying to make out dim shapes in the dark, to see if the doors would open. If the person was stuck between floors, they might have a problem.]

Y-yeah, my... pinky finger!

[The voice veers from a young child to an older teenager, and Jinx springs from the elevator shaft with arms open. The darkness hides the fill effect of the surprise, which means she has to compensate-- the need to make a scene is the most tantamount. She wraps her arms around Alex and cackles.] Sucker! I didn't think anybody'd fall for that.

[At least Alex was able to brace quickly, although clearly surprised to suddenly be hugged. He didn't do hugging, okay? Her words brought out a soft scoffing laugh.]

If you don't get off me, I will break your pinky.

[It was a polite warning.]

Besides, we're supposed to be getting 'redeemed'. Which means being all helpful and shit, right?

[Please do mind the sarcasm.]

[Jinx's answering cackle is throaty, mocking, joyful. She leaps away, and in the process manages to hit her companion in the face with one of the long braids hanging from her head. What a total, complete accident!]

Don't tell me you fell for that. Wait- actually. You fell for my trick. I shouldn't be surprised!

[Alex just rolls his eyes as he's hit with the braid. Somehow he's not surprised.]

Maybe I'm just playing nice to get myself set up to go psycho later.

[He wanted to believe that it would be possible--that he could save his sister, stop the Infection. But he wasn't an idiot also--if nothing else, playing 'nice' would help get him his abilities back. The conspiracies here would be harder to unravel, but it wasn't like he didn't have experience with uncovering them. Finding out the uncomfortable truth and all.]

[The braid hits him again. It's almost like, out there in the nearby darkness, someone is doing this on purpose.]

Ohhh. Are you gonna try and murder me? [A laugh, as though this possibility is innately amusing. Exciting, almost.] Because, whoo boy. Get in line...

No reason to murder you yet---gonna give me one?

[Sure, keep hitting him with a braid. Next one that does is getting grabbed.]

[If there's an opportunity to provoke someone, Jinx will take it. She feels her braid being grabbed in the dark-- the thing is, the braids are as long as she is tall, a solid five feet and change. She yanks back, testing her companion's strength more than anything.]

Iunno. If you're all psycho, do you really need one?

[She's not able to tug it free. Even without his normal abilities Alex had a good grip on it.]

Different kinds of psychoses, and different MOs for different kind of psychopaths.

[If they were in a place with real lighting, Jinx would look cartoonish, leaning back casually while she lets the braid, now looped around her abdomen, hold her up. She has a hand gripped firmly on the long end, so it doesn't tug at her head.]

That's very scientific. Are you a scientist? Or just the normal kind of boring?

[Good thing the lights are out then. He can vaguely make out her shape in the dark. But it's a dark shadow against more darkness and not very distinct.]

Why do you care if I'm a scientist or not?

[Jinx is at ease in darkness, despite the bright colors she normally favors. Half-lit shadows will give the blocky impression of a lean woman of nominal build and average height; from silhouette alone, the most remarkable thing about her are the two long braids at her back, one of which she's wrapped around herself.]

Me? Oh, I don't. But scientists are interesting, so I was hoping, y'know, you'd be.

[Alex is definitely a blockier build, taller than her by a head at least. ]

...Multiple degrees. But I think you should find me boring anyway.

That's crazy. You're talking crazy. And you know what they say about people who talk like they're crazy, right?

[Momentarily distracted by the boring comment, but surely she'll find her way back to it.]

That you should never trust them.

[Alex smiled, but it wasn't a good smile. or a nice smile.]

Good thing I don't trust anybody.

[It's not the answer that Jinx was expecting, but it's so unexpected that it startles her into laughter. Like her voice, it's rasping, throaty, almost like she's gotten a smoker's cough early.]

What are ya, from some rag novel? That was great! Do another one!

[Now that she's decided this guy is entertaining, she's decided to get all the entertainment she can out of him... in the least respectful way possible.]

C'mon, like- [Her voice goes gruff and deep, a clear imitation of a manly man.] Dead or alive, you're comin' with me.

[And then, once more, she cackles.]

Edited (standardized spelling? what now) 2021-12-16 23:43 (UTC)

[Cue an eye-roll from Alex. So very not impressed.]

Not like I've had that thrown at me before...

[With full sarcasm. Putting his hands in his pockets, preparing to walk away as best he could in the dark. No 'dead or alive, you're comin' with me" to be heard.]

TEST DRIVE 001

b. Lights Out (Fellow inmate okay?)

perf!

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