TEST DRIVE #2

[collectedmods]

TEST DRIVE #2

Hi shoppers! Welcome to the second Test Drive Meme for COLLECTED. A few things before we get started:

» This TDM is open to any players who are interested in applying. Collected is an invite-only game, meaning that invites come from being on the mod plurklists, but for this round, our TDM is open to anyone who has an interest. If you are interested in applying but do not have an invite, please PM our mod account (collectedmods) with a link to your toplevel on this TDM and we will extend an invitation to you! Please note that you can only reserve and apply if you have an invite.

» As was the case in the first TDM, TDM threads are not canon. Because of this, feel free to assume CR for the ease of threads.

» While we’ve listed out some prompts here, feel free to make up your own prompts using the setting, or use any of the prompts from our last TDM as well!

» If you have any questions about what you can and can’t do (or about anything else) reply to the QUESTIONS comment below, and we’ll get back to you soon.

Most importantly, have fun! And thank you so much for your interest in Collected! 🧡

PROMPTS

Have you ever been to a parking lot circus? Well, they exist, and you’re in luck - the circus has come to town! Or rather, it’s come to the mall. For a limited time, a big top has appeared in the dusty, desolate parking lot of the mall. You’ll find a big tunnel vacuum sealed to the front doors of the mall that allows access to and from the tent, so how much could it hurt to go inside?

The tunnel and tent seem to have been crafted with the same skill as the mall was - it somehow keeps the toxic air from outside out. The only difference between the mall and the tent is that the big top doesn’t do as good of a job of keeping the blistering heat out - it’ll protect you from burns, but it’s going to be pretty hot in there underneath the summer sun! Be sure to bring a cold drink on your way in.

Inside the tent, you won’t find any staff or performers, unfortunately. Everything inside the tent seems to be in mint condition, though, strangely enough, as though restored to its former glory - not unlike how some of the stores in the abandoned mall revert back to their pristine states sometimes. While there’s no performance to catch, there is plenty to look at and experience:

I.

Right after coming in through the fun tunnel, the first thing to your right is a collection of popcorn machines, the same kind you’d see at an amusement park where kernels must be poured in. You’ll find several unmarked bags of popcorn right near the machines, and they look decidedly not rotten, unlike most of the food in the mall.

Things are never that easy and simple here, though! Pop a bag of these bad boys and consume some of it and you’ll find yourself with one of the following afflictions:

A. Caramel corn flavor: Loss of sight. Hopefully you trust your companion enough not to attack or steal from you, because you’ll need to navigate to somewhere safe until this one wears off!
B. Extra butter flavor: Loss of hearing. No matter how hard you try, it seems you can’t hear anything around you anymore! Learn to communicate non-verbally with your companion, and quick!
C. Cheddar flavor: Literally just food poisoning. You won’t be feeling so hot!

The only saving grace of these cursed popcorn bags is that there’s an antidote to be found if you have a careful eye: an inscription on the popcorn machines appears once they’ve been warmed from use, and it says, in the case of illness, have a taste of each flavor to get back to square one! You’ll have to suffer a bit more to get back to normal quickly, but.. it’s better than waiting out the effects, right?

II.

While there are no performers to be seen, their costumes can be found in the wardrobes in the back of the circus. They are typical of what you’d expect of a circus: colorful, frilly, and easy to put on, given their stretch. There are even props and accessories lying around like clown noses, jewelry, hula hoops, juggling balls, the whole nine yards. Given the horrible state of all the clothes and other fun items inside the mall, it might be tempting to take some of these outfits and items to repurpose them for your own wardrobe and use.

But be careful: donning these clothes or taking these items will give you the abilities of that circus performer. Wear or pick up anything belonging to a:

A. Clown, and you’ll feel like you need to make your companion laugh. Whether that’s through corny jokes, physical comedy, or other means, you won’t be able to resist.
B. Trapeze artist, and you’ll be blessed with great flexibility, and feel utterly fearless. Maybe that translates into being unafraid to speak your mind, or maybe you’re feeling brave enough to walk the tightrope - either way, nothing’s scaring you anymore.
C. Animal tamer, and you’ll want to train your companion to do tricks and follow your will (and not in the fun way, unless you’re into that).

Costumes of all kinds are here, though, so feel free to find anything that might belong to a circus performer and have the costumes possess you!

III.

All good things must come to an end, sadly. Whatever material the tent and tunnel is made of is not completely as sturdy as what the mall is built of - and after a fun day of activities, the tent and tunnel will begin to deteriorate and be destroyed.

Due to the radioactive sun outside, the top of the tent and tunnel will start to burn and get holes in it eventually, which will let in toxic air and harmful rays - not only that, but fires will start catching inside the tent as well. You’ll need to high tail it out of the circus and head back to the safety of the mall unless you want to fry in the horrible conditions outside. Exposure to the sunlight from outside will give you painful burns and welts, and it’s near impossible to inhale the thick, poisonous air from outside without keeling over.

While you’ll be able to survive limited exposure, it’s not wise to get stuck out here. Besides, you’ll find that upon returning to the mall, your wounds will mysteriously begin to heal, slowly and painfully. So, run quickly, and make sure not to leave anyone behind!

NAVIGATION

Comments

[goldenize]

[ being stuck in a necromancer's body doesn't make a lot of sense when you're a dipshit cavalier. for one, necromancers are puny, or at least harrow is. for another, cavaliers aren't, or at the very least you sure as shit weren't.

but more confusing than anything else is the feelings that exist in the world around you. like a sixth sense you've suddenly become aware of but have no words to describe. you know well enough what it is you're feeling, thanergy and thalergy, and harrow's memories give some tiny bit of understanding, but even that's not much. just enough to have the names. just enough to feel the shift in the air and know that someone's in here with you. someone silent. someone who is most assuredly a threat, meaning you need to get off your ass and-

oh, fuck, he said hello. change of plans. ]

Hey. [ she doesn't jump when he speaks, but she does visibly relax a bit - the hand on her sword's hilt loosening up. ] This seat yours?

[damnpire]

No. [It's polite. Not necessarily quiet, or soft so much as subdued. But it's not cold either.] You will need to eat the others.

Unless you don't mind being blind.

[Not much moves when he shifts to glance around from beneath the brim of the hat, nothing except the bottom end of the cloak. The weight of his feet, though, are heavier than they had been when he approached before.]

[goldenize]

Oh. [ that's... genuinely helpful information, actually. not that it stops her from talking like a complete idiot. ] Wait, can I finish this bag here first? Because I'm not gonna lie, I am feeling this popcorn right now.

[ the longer he watches, the more obvious it becomes that she's absolutely blind at this point - and in the same way, the more obvious it is that she's still aware of him, even still. she doesn't know exactly where he is, and she doesn't have a great grasp on the threat he might pose, but she's certainly got other ways of perceiving him.

she keeps the conversation going, at least in part to have an audible way to locate him. ]

You've dealt with this before, huh?

[damnpire]

If you'd like.

[Well, she can't see him, but he does not appear to be bothered by the fact she is able to keep track of him. It's not a bad skill to have? He can respect that.

Especially regarding someone like him.]

It will wear off in time. [It sounds like he is purposefully dodging the question, very D.] The machines tell you to taste each flavor to return to the beginning.

[Another voice suddenly interjects, but it doesn't at all sound like D's voice. It's croaky and old, and it says,] Afraid to give me a little credit, huh? Pah! I ate those fair and square, you know! [But D does not respond to the voice.]

[goldenize]

[ see, she's about to respond to his suggestions - to ask where the popcorn went, or to say how she really doesn't want to leave right now, but if he brings her some she'd be happy to try it, or some shit like that - and then there's a second voice in the room with them, and gideon just freezes in place. after a moment, she manages: ]

Sorry. Didn't notice your, uh. Friend? [ a beat. ] Just checking, is this the kind of thing not being blind would have helped with?

[damnpire]

No.

[It's a shame she cannot see the flat look D lets himself show around the eyes at the interruption. Very rarely does any irritation slip by. Maybe it's easier to do because she is blind.]

You don't have to worry about him.

[He sounds as level as he did before. The second voice begins to make a noise, but D squeezes his left hand, and nothing makes it out except a startled sort of grunt.]