wellie: (Default)
Well Mod ([personal profile] wellie) wrote in [community profile] wellcome2022-01-03 05:30 pm
Entry tags:

1.0 Test Drive Meme

1.0 Test Drive Meme

Welcome to Well! Characters arrive the same way every month. Your character arrives with only a handful of memories, clad in old west style clothes of your choosing, with no items from home.

Anyone is free to play on the TDM, but you need an invite to apply. Feel free to use these prompts, and interact with the arrival or locations. NPCs are around, but only say a certain set of phrases. TDMs can be considered game canon.

Applications open on January 20th, and the game opens on February 1st. Invites are available for members of the mods' plurk lists.

Put on your dancing shoes
Content warning: Alcohol, intoxication, altered mental state

Something’s happening at the Cactus Pad Saloon. It’s lit up bright against the growing night, and music spills out onto the street. Seems like a fun time that you should check out. In fact, it’s hard not to check it out: the closer you get, the stronger the urge to join the fun. If you’ve been spending a lot of time alone, you’ll feel even more compelled to come get a drink.

The bartender serves up anything you can think of: from whiskey to apple juice to blood, if that’s your preference. She doesn’t blink an eye, no matter what’s ordered. The funny thing is, no matter what you order, once you take a sip, the world feels a little easier to deal with, your worries seem to melt away. You’re flush with sudden confidence.

If you strike up a conversation with the person next to you, conversation flows like you’re talking to an old friend. You feel a sense of kinship, deep and meaningful, good or bad, that bonds you together.

The old record player is playing a fun ditty, and the longer you stick around, the more you’re tempted to join, or start, the dancing. Whether you’re a great dancer or you have two left feet, you find that you feel capable of dancing like no one’s watching. No one knows you here, after all. You barely know yourself, so why not draw a partner into the fray? A party’s better together!

If you end up staying there til closing time, the bartender kicks you out with a gruff “come back tomorrow,” leaving you to stumble home with your new best friend. What was their name again?


Sand trap
Content warning: Quick sand, potential drowning in sand

You step through a door into a room you didn’t mean to enter. You were trying to head into the saloon, or your hotel room, or the bathroom, and instead you’re here: in a small, tight, windowless room in a white-washed building. The air here is old, stale, and thick. Hazy gold light bounces off the walls, but you can’t tell where it’s coming from, since there’s no visible ceiling. The walls just stretch up and up into bright nothingness.

Someone else is there, too, coming through an identical door on the opposite wall. Both doors snap shut, and won’t open again, no matter how hard you try. They won’t even break.

This might not be so bad, except that a sound starts to fill the space: sand, trickling down the walls. It’s just a dusting to start. It comes sprinkling down above, seeping through the cracks in the door. The longer you stand there, the faster it comes: sand flows down the walls in massive torrents, building up on the floor, shifting and thick, trapping you in place.

The only way out is up. When you look again at the walls, you’ll notice it: about 10 feet up the wall hangs a flimsy rope ladder, half-hidden by the waterfall of sand. You’ll have to work together to even reach it, or maybe let the ever-growing pile of shifting, slippery sand lift you up? Be careful, because even if you manage to reach the rope, you both have to get out of here, and the longer you’re here, the faster and harder the sand falls. The ladder seems to go on forever, tens of feet up an endless wall. The better you work together, the closer the top seems. No matter how well you collaborate, they're at least 50 feet high.

When you’ve fought your way through the sand and reached the top of the ladder, you finally see it: the sand is coming in through the open windows of a steeple. You can’t see where it’s from, not really. You can’t see much of anything, but it’s clear: the only way out is, well, out. You have to jump, trusting that yourself and your companion will be safe.

Once free, you land together outside of one of the buildings or rooms you were trying to enter, like nothing happened at all. It’s a calm day, after all.

Memories of the living
Content warning: Cemetery, contemplating mortality

Dusk settles purple over Wellstone. Early stars are out, the moon is thin, and you find yourself inexplicably drawn to the graveyard. You can resist, but the more days you do, the harder it gets. The graveyard is calling to you in a voice you can’t hear.

While it seems small before you enter, once you start walking through the crumbling graves, it seems to stretch endlessly. You pass elaborate dust-covered crypts carved with strange angels; bleached wooden crosses overgrown with cacti; a crumbling old well, long gone dry; worn-down headstones jut at odd angles. Some graves have old offerings on them, brightly colored beads or candles or framed photos, sun-bleached beyond recognition.

You may have been walking for five minutes or fifty, but when you look around, you can’t see to find the exit. You hear howling, and see the flicker of lights from behind the graves, but you can never find their source, no matter how much you look. No matter how long you spend in the graveyard, the sun never seems to sink lower in the sky. An oppressive sense of being watched grows to the point that you whip around, expecting to find someone there until—

You do. You find each other. Others drawn here to the graveyard, walking among the crumbling stones, will end up by the same headstones. Exploring together eases the watchful feeling just a little, but it won’t help you get out. No, you’re looking for something. The exit? No, you’re sure there’s something more important than that.

If you follow your impulses, you may just find it: a gravestone, weathered, old, with a familiar name on it: yours. Your date of birth can be visible, but the date of death is too weathered to read. You may find an offering there, something small and meaningful to you, a small shiny coin or some bright beads.

Once you find your grave, when you look up, you’ll see the exit. You’re really not that far from it, after all, the rusted iron arch barely a stone's throw feet away. Your companion won’t see it yet. You can make a dash for it, get out of this awful place, or help your companion find their own gravestone. When your companion finds their stone, they will also be able to see the exit. Exiting together will alleviate the impulse to come back to this place. Leaving alone will only draw you back, making it more difficult to find your grave again.

You can take the offerings left on your grave if you want, but the sense of being watched will only grow greater until you’re compelled to return them, and leave another offering of your own.

simplefarmboy: (in your hands)

[personal profile] simplefarmboy 2023-01-09 03:19 am (UTC)(link)
[Totally normal here. Just a boy born and raised in America. Yep.

Clark blinks in confusion at the whole reaction- Just how quickly the guy calms down. He's not sure about the whole running into him on purpose thing? But would this guy to lie to him? Clark likes to think not.]


Oh- Uh. Sorry about that.

I'll stand closer to the side next time.

[Clark. You were not the problem.]
simplefarmboy: (c'mon)

[personal profile] simplefarmboy 2023-01-09 04:16 am (UTC)(link)
[Clark feels better as they get further away from his grave. Once he's set on the ground he's mostly feeling normal again and he settles like it.]

Fair enough- Well if it helps I'd do the same for you.

[He glances back toward his grave and feels uneasy. He's not exactly sure why he suddenly felt so weak back there. It's unsettling.]

I'm guessing you don't remember much about yourself either, huh?
hedonistic: (pic#11568171)

[personal profile] hedonistic 2023-01-09 04:18 am (UTC)(link)
I dunno! Stuff??

[helpful]

What your planet's like, maybe? ...Damn, I guess I don't remember enough about this planet for that to matter, huh.

[what a WASTED OPPORTUNITY ugh.]

Okay, okay, do you remember stuff about humans and what we're like? Maybe you know what's different.
prayererror: (where the truth isn't the real thing)

[personal profile] prayererror 2023-01-09 04:22 am (UTC)(link)
[This is the second fucking time a human's leaked at him in the lobby. What the fuck's this. He'd barely gotten the bloodstains out of his bandages from the first time, wrung them clean until the water had run clear, and-- they'll just have to suffice again.

He retracts his hand and starts unwinding the bandages around his wrists.
]

I did. However, it is not of any importance, compared to your wellbeing right now. Stay still, and then we will find you somewhere to sit and recuperate.

[Whether it hurts or not, losing blood is a bad sign. At least there's no gushing from the ears this time, so he just wads up one ball of gauze and moves to wipe away that trickle.] Do not tip your head back, and do not think too hard. You have stressed your...

Your systems. For want of a better word.
themuseabandonsyou: (profile)

[personal profile] themuseabandonsyou 2023-01-09 04:23 am (UTC)(link)
Okay! [ says Orpheus, who does not think to question how suspicious that sounds in the least. He takes the cupcake, turning it in his hands as he tries to figure out the best angle from which to take a bite out of it. ]

I'm Orpheus. It's nice to meet you. You don't remember what your name is short for, though?

[ He looks up again, concerned. That seems like a really big thing to forget, and being confused and a little worried about that is enough to momentarily distract him from his own problems. ]
themuseabandonsyou: (smile)

[personal profile] themuseabandonsyou 2023-01-09 04:27 am (UTC)(link)
[ By now Orpheus has picked up on the awkwardness, at least a bit, but as far as he's concerned the best thing he can do for that is to be encouraging. He pauses, cocking his head to one side as he listens to the music for inspiration, before admitting; ]

I'm not really sure! But it can't be hard, can it? [ He grins, holding out his hands. ] Here, I think I have an idea? Just follow my lead.
chickenchoicejudy: Scrawny - The Wallows (Question though)

[personal profile] chickenchoicejudy 2023-01-09 04:29 am (UTC)(link)
[It's specific, but it's more than Ryan has.]

Yeah. It's...definitely weird. Maybe the weirder part is no one seems to know anything? I definitely don't.

[He carefully swirls his drink, for something to do with his hands.]

I don't remember many specific places...definitely a wild west town like this, but not actually this one? But I don't think I was from there either.

[But then, where's he actually from? He has no idea.]
simplefarmboy: (just stay stay)

[personal profile] simplefarmboy 2023-01-09 04:32 am (UTC)(link)
[Clark had no idea he was actually solar powered, so he was more than willing to take Flynn's word on that. He gives a smile and nods.]

Right! I'll be back in a second.

[And he almost prepares to run off. But stops himself- He remembers earlier when he ran and it was way too fast. He didn't want another repeat of that. So his steps are more careful and with purpose. Just a normal guy walking down the hall.

For someone about to embark on a mission it looked like he could probably use a bit more hussle.

But he returned momentarily with a hat on his head.]


Alright.

Let's do this.
hedonistic: (pic#12466044)

[personal profile] hedonistic 2023-01-09 04:38 am (UTC)(link)
[This is, evidently, the wrong move. Kagari takes a step back before the man can reach him with those bandages, wiping his nose on his sleeve instead.

He looks faintly stricken, and Kagari doesn't even really know why he should feel like this, but he knows what the clockwork man is saying is wrong. If he knew the truth, he wouldn't want to help Kagari, he'd keep his distance like everyone else.

(The truth? What the fuck's the truth? What does that mean--)

Kagari grits his teeth, feeling frustrated. This is what he wanted, right? To start off some wild adventure with a robot sidekick? Why does it make him feel so awful?]


You don't even know me, man. I don't even know me. What if I'm some ... crazy serial killer or something, then my well-being wouldn't be worth jack shit.
unjedi: (198)

[personal profile] unjedi 2023-01-09 04:43 am (UTC)(link)
[ hmm. she's not sure she should be indulging this, but whatever. ]

Well, you have hair. And ears.
chickenchoicejudy: Art is Dead - Bo Burnham (Won't budge it)

[personal profile] chickenchoicejudy 2023-01-09 04:45 am (UTC)(link)
[Did she? Honestly, if she did it's slipped out of his head already, but it's hard to feel guilty about it when his name didn't stick either.]

Ryyyyan! Ryan. Close though!

[Not really, but whatever. He knocks back the rest of his his drink to go with their toast. It's his fifth or sixth or something like that, but he's been getting exclusively whiskey sours so he's on a similar drunk level as her. Once he recovers from hitting that too fast though, he laughs.]

Woah. That's...some other night you've gotta try that, Pela. We're done, drunk buds pact, but it's reeeeal good.

[They should maybe go, before he changes his mind and decides another one is a good idea.]
prayererror: (before the swaying flowers at its base)

[personal profile] prayererror 2023-01-09 04:47 am (UTC)(link)
[Even Dimos can read that kind of signal. He stays put this time, winding the bandages between his hands to keep them busy. Best to not make this distress worse by pushing the matter.]

I do not.

I do not know myself. But I know that I want to help, and if that is all I've been left with, then I will hold onto it.

And...If you try killing, I think that I may be able to restrain you.
[He shrugs. It's cocky, pre-programmed with swagger he doesn't think he has.] If you do not desire help, however, I will leave you be.
chickenchoicejudy: Art is Dead - Bo Burnham (To think that I'm worthy of)

[personal profile] chickenchoicejudy 2023-01-09 04:50 am (UTC)(link)
[When he confirms that yes, he's also going to the hotel Ryan grins wide. He's definitely wrecked and having some trouble focusing correctly but he did it! Someone going to the hotel!]

Thanks, man. You...y'reeeeally seem like you know where you're going, y'know?

[Ryan for sure does not, but he stays clinging to Clark and assumes he's right about that. Probably.]
hedonistic: (pic#11971744)

[personal profile] hedonistic 2023-01-09 05:06 am (UTC)(link)
[Oh.

It makes an awful lot of sense, suddenly. What a shitty thing to be left with, he finds himself thinking, suddenly. He'll suffer, like that. With it comes a bloom of sudden protectiveness on his own side, ironically enough.]


Nah, you should keep an eye on me. [he manages to bring back his grin, though it's faint.] Y'know, in case I'm a serial killer.

[That feels more correct, somehow. The way of the world sliding back into place. The man's kindness feels more acceptable if they're not on the same level.]

C'mon, clockman, let's go on a dining adventure.
chickenchoicejudy: Why Didn't You Stop Me? - Mitski (Why didn't you stop me?)

[personal profile] chickenchoicejudy 2023-01-09 05:09 am (UTC)(link)
[The next minute or so are really disorienting for Ryan. The scenery changes and he keeps trying to peek but that requires a lot more moving of his head than he wants to do. He hasn't had the room long enough for it to feel properly like his yet, so the tilting walls and ceiling don't feel especially comforting.

Then he's tumbling and hits the mattress with all of his weight, and makes no move to adjust himself at first. He doesn't even take his glasses off. This is good enough, probably.

But after just a moment or so, he turns and reaches out with an arm, feeling blindly for...something. Someone. Where's that nice guy...?
]

Nn...where's...'re...?

[Helplessly and uselessly he pats around the mattress. It's not really helping. :(]
hedonistic: (pic#10639161)

[personal profile] hedonistic 2023-01-09 05:12 am (UTC)(link)
[well. this is true.]

You mean you don't have ears under -- [he gestures, vaguely, at her head] there?

[:0!!!]

How do you hear?
masculinitea: (Default)

[personal profile] masculinitea 2023-01-09 05:13 am (UTC)(link)
Orph'! Or, you know, Orpheus. Bro. Cool.

[Whew! Cannonball dodged, good job Vic.

There's a shiny foil wrapper on that cupcake and that swirly chocolate frosting is wet and has zero structural integrity - if Orpheus touches it, it's getting on his fingers. It's also just that kind of size to make a mess while eating. This is not a practical gift to just hand to someone.]


Nah. But I mean, centaur names are a participle and a gerund, like... ow! [Hey is thinking supposed to hurt?? Vic rubs his thick skull.]
prayererror: (a monster that's accumulated)

[personal profile] prayererror 2023-01-09 05:18 am (UTC)(link)
[The smile's tiny, but it's...It's enough for him. It's an effort, and Dimos treasures that. He also treasures the joke, recognises it as that and recognises the weird curling whirling feeling in his ribcage as amusement, and so lets out the softest little 'hah'.

His first ever laugh, and he doesn't even realise.
]

Order heard--

Mm. Let's go.
[The blood doesn't seem to keep coming, and...There has to be something to drink in the dining room, anyway. So he motions loosely towards where the food smells are coming from, before trotting onward. Let no man keep him from chewing on stale biscuits!]

...If you are a serial killer, can I ask what the reasoning is behind killing in such a manner? I have never understood why, outside war, someone would do that sort of thing. It is cruel, unnecessary. If you can explain, then I will be even closer by your side, to watch you.
rottencactus: <user name =__7__HR site =Twitter.com> (119)

[personal profile] rottencactus 2023-01-09 05:18 am (UTC)(link)
[He took a minute to catch his breath before standing back up, intending to leave him now. He didn't seem to be in any medical danger and likely just needed to sleep the night off. He felt a little awkward lingering here any longer since he was a stranger. The hotel, if they did what he asked, should bring up some fresh water shortly, as well. He's not really needed...]

[Ah-]

[...is he trying to reach for him...? That feels presumptuous, since he is... he is...]

[Insignificant. A worm meant to crawl beneath the dirt--]

[Mayoi sucks in a breath and comes back over to the bed.]


R-Ryan-san...? Is there something else I can do for you?
unjedi: (235)

[personal profile] unjedi 2023-01-09 05:20 am (UTC)(link)
The same way you do, I imagine. We just don't have ears.

[ she points to her montrals. the stubby horns on her head. ]

We hear through those.
chickenchoicejudy: I'm Just Your Problem - Adventure Time ft. Olivia Olson (I'm gonna bury you with my sound)

Re: C

[personal profile] chickenchoicejudy 2023-01-09 05:22 am (UTC)(link)
[Is...that a yes? He thinks that's a yes, but he has to stare for a second to process it, and then the guy's talking about rooms, so....yeah, probably!

Suddenly standing is a lot easier with someone supporting him, but he doesn't risk letting go either. But he's okay with that. This is kind of cozy.
]

Uh...

[Room number, room number....roomber...]

...Nooooo. But! I've gotta key!

[This is the point where Ryan starts becoming a wiggly drunk, because he doesn't want to let go but he's also trying to search all his pockets while still clinging to Flynn. Good luck with that.]
rottencactus: (24)

[personal profile] rottencactus 2023-01-09 05:25 am (UTC)(link)
[Do you know what makes Mayoi neurotic? Being looked at. Did he know this before now? Probably not. It turns out, having that suddenly light up your nerves on top of the general misery of exploding blood from his face makes for a very unpleasant time.]

I-I don't- I can't-

[Hahaha, what does he do? How does he fix this? He doesn't even know what happened and his head is still pounding, but everything is screaming at him to escape. To escape and hide.]

[So he decides to try and do that, but he gets exactly two steps before his vision swims and he hits the ground.]
chickenchoicejudy: Ramblings of a Lunatic - Bears in Trees (Maybe I'll just descend to dirt)

[personal profile] chickenchoicejudy 2023-01-09 05:28 am (UTC)(link)
Mm...

[He heard Mayoi and he sounded close, so he tries again. It takes a couple of sloppy attempts, but when their hands brush together he reaches one last time and catches his wrist.

And then...

...He doesn't do anything with it.

He just falls asleep like that, with his hand loosely clasped around Mayoi's.
]
betrayall: (pic#16174192)

[personal profile] betrayall 2023-01-09 05:32 am (UTC)(link)
Bojack. Horseman.

[More staring, and he flips up the clip on sunglass lenses over his real glasses, his beady little eyes squinting at Bojack, a confused and honestly somewhat frightened frown on his lips.]

Why are you a horse?

[Dale you can't just ask someone why they're a horse.

Come on. Think. What's the explanation for this? It can't be he's accidentally high on cocaine, if the guy's agreeing to it. "Guy." He's a horse, for christ's sake.
]

You're- not from around these parts are you?

[It's particularly weird that no one else seems to be commenting on this, or staring at Bojack like he is. Is everyone else here just used to it?]

So what is it? Area 52 experiment escapee? Or- from beyond the stars?
rottencactus: <user name =__7__HR site =Twitter.com> (124)

1/3 i think

[personal profile] rottencactus 2023-01-09 05:33 am (UTC)(link)
[Eh?]

[Eeeeeeeeeeh?]


R-Ryan-san?