memesoftheton | TDM II

TDM II

The Ton Test Drive Meme II

Welcome to the The Ton's second Test Drive Meme!

Applications will OPEN on the 1st of June. Players with characters already in game are also welcome to top-level with them. However, we ask that all TDM-related prompts stay on the TDM post itself.

If you do write a top-level, please make sure to include your character's name and canon in the subject field - regardless of whether your character is already in game or not.

Please note that the Test Drive Meme does not require an invite in order to participate - submitting an application does.

NAVIGATION.

🌿 Arrival • Welcome Drinks • The Greenhouse Effect • Skinny Dipping • Give You Butterflies [NSFW] • That Belongs in A Museum • Jump to Comments 🌿

🌱 Applications • FAQ • Rules • Full Navigation 🌱

Arrival

I. WELCOME

You don't remember when or where you fell asleep exactly...

Perhaps it's the tickling sensation of a low hanging tree branch brushing against your nose or the feel of the slightly damp grass underneath you that causes you to awaken but when you do you'll find yourself lying amongst a glade of wisteria trees. You're not alone - nymphs of the trees laugh and dance about you, clearly amused at the new arrival. Along with them, your new loyal servant is here on Pheme's bidding. How this servant looks is different to each arrival. Some are saddled with short, stout butlers, others are welcomed by towering, busty maids. Regardless of their appearance, they introduce themselves with a kindness and warmth that is simultaneously reassuring and strangely impossible to resist when they beckon you to follow them from the grove and out into the city of Andovale.

The closest structure within sight is the Palace and its grounds. It is here that the Lady Pheme resides and from here that she rules over the city, your servant explains to you. You have been selected and brought here personally by her. It is she who assigned the servant to guide you through the regency-inspired city that is your new home.

Eventually, they will bring you to your new residence within the outskirts of somewhere called the "Trade Quarter". You are now the resident of a room within one of the many imposing town houses which make up the Grand Crescent. Throughout your stay here the servant will be your own personal butler or maid. This is where all new arrivals will be living for the time being you are told. Your servant will also give you a crash course on life here and the concept of Thumos - the energy or life force that keeps Andovale and all life within it going - including you now that you are here. It's generated through acts of intimacy, whether that be physical or emotional.

Once you have been shown to your room, you are given two things: a network communication device and a letter. The letter reads as follows:

My dearest reader,

Welcome to Andovale.

The delights of our fair city are yours to explore.

I do hope that you make your stay here a most interesting one. I shall be frightfully disappointed if you do not - and we do not want that, do we?

You will hear from me again very soon.

Yours Truly,

Lady Pheme

You are free to wander about and explore the house and its surroundings as you please. It's certainly spacious enough. As well as your own quarters, each of the townhouses of the Grand Crescent have large communal areas, which includes the kitchens (although why you'd like to go there when your servant can fetch any delicacies you'd like for you!), a dining room, a parlour with its own small library, two drawing rooms (somewhere you can go to chill out basically - harp music anyone?) and a generously sized garden.

Strangely, unlike most accurate regency townhouses, there do not appear to be any servant's quarters - perhaps these servants don't need to rest? Or they go somewhere else entirely for that?

Why not introduce yourself to your new housemates? Or enjoy some tea and cakes that have been prepared for you personally by your retainer, which they seem to keep insisting on bringing to you?

II. AN INVITATION

Whether you're brand new to Andovale or a an established ~~if a little unwilling~~ resident by now, your assigned maid or butler will track you down. They are not empty-handed and they carry a silver tray, upon which is an envelope with a wax seal bearing the letter "P". Inside the envelope is an invitation. An invitation from your benevolent ruler, Lady Pheme herself.

Each character will receive an invitation identical in wording to the one below:

EVENT AT THE PLEASURE GARDENS

YOUR CHARACTER'S NAME HERE

Is requested to attend an exclusive event at the PLEASURE GARDENS, on 27th of May current.

Admission to the attraction begins at 6 o'clock p. m.

Wear something green for this special occasion.

Lady Pheme

Your servant can help you find something appropriate to wear - or not appropriate, the choice is entirely yours, after all. If you decide to go with their guidance, it is notable that they seem a little less decisive in the sort of outfit you should be wearing for this event - only, as Pheme said, that it should be something green. An evening gathering surely must require formal wear though and they will eventually press upon you the importance of wearing Regency Full Dress for the night ahead.

You may come to regret this.

Note: Even though it's a little different from the norm, this event will still count as a ball and all attendees will get 10 Reputation Points✨, just for showing up and looking respectable. Indulging with the theme and wearing an acceptable green outfit will also gain attendees a further 5 Points✨.

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WELCOME DRINKS

CW: alcohol

So, you've received an exclusive invitation to the Pleasure Gardens' latest pop-up attraction from Lady Pheme herself? How exciting! Ordinarily, the Gardens are open to anyone willing to pay the small amount of Thumos required to enter, but tonight it seems that only those brought in from other worlds are permitted access. You're getting an exclusive preview of the attraction, one of the guards at the gates tells you.

One of their colleagues will escort you down the torch flame lit pathways, through the gardens to the centre - the open space where all events like this take place.

Tonight, that open space is not so open. Besides the vast outdoor ballroom floor, in front of you is a giant glass house - basically, a large fancy green house between you and I. These are often found at grand country houses to show off and cultivate exotic, never before seen plants from far off lands. You've been brought here for the unveiling of this attraction. How such a thing could possibly be temporary seems highly improbable, but that's Pheme for you.

Feel free to begin the evening with mingling and dancing as befitting of any ball, but before the night is over you will feel yourself propelled forward to join the queue to get into the "Palm House," almost as if an invisible hand is shoving you forwards. You're even handed an extremely green and theme appropriate alcoholic beverage to consume in the queue while you wait. It's all very civilised.

Oddly, this drink won't get you drunk in the usual way, despite the alcohol content. Instead you will find yourself imbued with a hefty sense of glee and eagerness for adventure. It's all to help ease you into this experience, after all.

You're admitted to the Palm House one at a time - it's fine, you'll see your friends inside! Just as you set foot through the doors, your head is filled with the sound of a woman's voice, soft and beguiling:

"Dearest gentle member of the ton - what happens in the Palm House, stays in the Palm House. You are free tonight."

Note: For those that don't drink, there's also an alcohol free version. It looks completely identical to the boozy version.

Whether that drink has got you in the spirit or not, entering the Palm House is worth your while. All of those who enter will instantly receive 20 Reputation Points✨. And in case it wasn't already obvious, on this very special of occasions and the debut of her attraction, Pheme is turning a blind eye to what happens to you all in there. These things need a whole lot of Thumos to run properly and some of you will be doing her a huge favour... you just don't know it yet.

There will be no NPCs present in the Palm House, only your characters. Tonight is an exclusive preview for Pheme's Chosen, after all.

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THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT

Entering the Palm House is a rather surreal experience to say the least. Sure, it looked pretty grand from the outside, but that's nothing compared to what greets you inside...

You might have been expecting a typical large tropical greenhouse as per any botanical garden visit, if such things exist to you back home. However, this particular green house appears to contain nothing less than a few dozen acres of rain forest. If the word "Tardis" resided in the vocabulary of the Ton's residents then it would surely be applied here. Pheme's out to show off again.

The moment you take a step or two through that door you feel strangely disoriented. Take a few steps more - perhaps you change your mind and decide to head back to the door you just came through. Only when you do, you'll find that the door is no longer there.

There is another door out of here but that involves crossing the length of the exhibit - and as you can now see quite clearly, that is not going to be such an easy task. There are paths to take and to (hopefully) stick to, but they seem to crisscross at every turn you take and go in all different directions. Thick rainforest surrounds you on all sides, its dense foliage extending towards what you can see of the glass ceiling and the night sky beyond that.

Pheme hasn't been quite cruel enough to leave you wandering through the rainforest by moonlight alone. Many of the plants here glow with an unnaturally bright bioluminescence - and there is more. Every now and again during your travels you will see the light of a of lantern darting amongst the trees, accompanied by alluring and lilting female voices, often laughing with delight. They might seem a little familiar to you.

It seems that the tree nymphs (or dryads) from the wisteria grove have sisters and they're making themselves quite at home in the Palm House. If you happen to catch a decent view of one of them, you'll find yourself face to face with quite possibly one of the most beautiful - not to mention scantily clad - women you have ever laid eyes on. They won't stick around long though. Make the mistake of trying to follow one of them and you'll find yourselves off the path and even more lost and disoriented than you were before.

You might be really regretting your choice of dress right about now - even if you are camouflaged with all of the greenery.

Note: If your character does not manage to find the exit (or one of the magic wreaths mentioned below) then they will only remain trapped in the Palm House until dawn. After that time period they will themselves slipping into a deep slumber, only to awaken right back in their cosy bed within the Grand Crescent (or wherever they've now made their home) a few hours later. You can thank your servant for that.

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SKINNY DIPPING

CW: large bodies of water, possible nudity

Unsurprisingly, it's hot in the forest, and the chances are that you didn't exactly come in here dressed for this.

While the dryads have made themselves at home on the land inside the Palm House, their naiad cousins (or water nymphs) have made themselves comfortable within the many rainforest pools. You can hear their delighted giggling as you traverse the forest and they will even call out to you in alluring tones, somehow knowing your name. It's impossible to resist following the sound and when you do you'll find yourself in front of one of the many pools that can be found within the Palm House.

Oddly, there is no sign of the naiads now that you're here. The water is beautifully crystal clear and dappled with the snatches of moonlight managing to shine through the forest canopy. That water is calling out to you, to drink and to bathe - you will feel an overwhelming compulsion to start removing your stuffy clothing, dive right in and cool down.

It's fine, after all, there's no one else around. Yet.

Just be care those pesky water nymphs don't hide your clothes.

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GIVES YOU BUTTERFLIES... (NSFW)

CW: sex, aphrodisiac, sex pollen, insects

It's not just nymphs and you lot making yourselves at home in the Palm House.

Often mistaken for moths, there's one species group of nocturnal butterflies, but their wings are dull, plain, and uninteresting. Clearly not a good fit for a glorious Palm House, designed by Pheme herself. That is precisely why Pheme has created her own, never before seen species of night butterfly, especially for this occasion.

Their wings are like gossamer, beautifully transparent like a ordinary glasswing butterfly but these ones glow in the dark. You probably encounter one or two as you make your way through the rainforest, but the longer you spend in here, the more the butterflies begin to swarm. Looking up and you'll see a "kaleidoscope" high above your heads, hundreds of them flocking together in a brightly glowing mass above the treeline. The display is only brief, but it leaves you with a strange yet probably not unfamiliar feeling.

You see, these butterflies have been carrying pollen on their bodies and legs, as butterflies often do, helping to spread the stuff. It seems whatever plant they have recently been feeding from has some very curious properties... and you can probably guess where this is going.

You feel hot - even more than you already did being stuck in a tropical forest. Not only that, you feel the strongest desire for physical intimacy. Effects vary depending on how much pollen you've been doused with, but you still have a deep, desperate need to do something about it. For those most strongly affected and desiring the ultimate, touching yourself may bring some relief. That may very well be your first thought to try, but some is the operative word here.

That person you've always had a flirtation with? Now is the time. You have to have them. You have to have each other. Or maybe you've just met this person, here, in the rainforest today? Maybe you're two people who ordinarily don't even like each other? Perhaps there's more than two of you?

It doesn't matter. You won't rest until you've gotten that release.

Note: The butterflies swarm covers a wide enough area that you can be anywhere within the Palm House when their pollen hits. While this is obviously a sex pollen prompt, players can choose how strongly their characters have been affected. It may be that they only got the lightest dousing of pollen and kissing is enough to satisfy them. On the other hand, maybe they got so covered in the stuff that only doing the deed will do. The choice is yours.

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THAT BELONGS IN A MUSEUM

CW: chance for NSFW

So, you're not having much luck navigating your way out of this foliage filled nightmare? There is another way out. At some point on your travels, one of the naiads will take pity on you and try to help you out: "Find one of the wreaths!"

Deeper into the greenhouse, or this pseudo rainforest as it basically is, you'll find ancient Greek laurel wreaths made of pure gold. They might be just lying on the ground, or up a tree, or under the water in one of the forest pools... The choice is yours as to where you find it, We'll leave that entirely to your discretion.

It will take quite some doing given how far into the jungle these treasures are, but should you manage to find one, upon contact, it will teleport you, and whoever you might be holding onto, out of the greenhouse and right back to the entrance to the Pleasure Gardens again.

The wreaths won't be easy to find, and you'll face many obstacles along the way. Some set to distract you entirely from your goal, which is get the hell out of here. Unless you actually like it in here? You do you, boo. We're not judging.

The teleportation abilities of the wreaths themselves can only be activated by generating a small amount of Thumos between yourself and another first, another naiad will explain. That means no grabbing one for yourself and hightailing it out of here! Oh no, no, no. What about your chums? It would not be seemly to leave them in the lurch, after all.

Note: Obviously more than one character can use one of these wreaths to teleport out of the Palm House, as long as each of you has a hand on the item and you have generated Thumos between all of you then it will work.

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Wildcard

To assist you with inspiration our full list of Andovale's locations can be found here.

Want to play something that isn't listed here? Go ahead!

Please note that TDMs are considered game canon.

As stated above, both prospective and current characters who are already in game are permitted to top-level on TDMs. However, we do ask that current players be mindful and welcoming to prospective new players and that they do try and make the effort to tag out beyond their current in-game CR.

For newbies: As your first port of call, we would recommend having a read of the premise page, as well as our rules and FAQ.

For any general game questions you may have which are not answered by the FAQ then please leave a comment on the FAQ page - for any questions specific to this TDM then please respond to the questions comment below.

Most importantly - have fun!

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

:FROM DEATH TO LIFE:

[ The last thing Quentin Coldwater remembers is being an old man and burying Eliot, burying him and finding a mosaic tile amidst the deligent work that he was doing to honour the his dead. As he had passed out in a grief that felt nearly unbearable, he'd woken up as if it had all been a dream. Sleep hazing out of his eyes; he pushed that haze away followed by his hair and struggled himself up to face the Retainer who greeted him, someone who he did not recognize but told him to follow them nevertheless.

This was not the strangest thing that had ever happened to him whatsoever. And it sure as hell probably won't be the last.

He was uncertain that it was Fillory, to little castles and not enough villager complaints. Even more unnerving was the fact that everyone seemed to be following his movements through town as if it was a walk of shame. Gods, this felt fucking familar, a walk of shame. There were questions about his quest with Eliot but that would wait, this felt a little bit more serious.

Once everything ceased to be overwhelming and after the long list of explanations where Quentin suddenly realized he'd been dragged into some sort of LARP Regency reenactment of Pride and Prejudice, he walked down to the parlor to find food.. and talk to people to see if they were just as perplexed as he was. ]

I can't be the only person that finds this odd or unsettling, right? What do you think this Pheme wants, it seems a bit cryptic, the message I got. What about you? [ To anyone who would listen ]

:NOT QUITE DARCY:

[ After Quentin was ceremoniously trussed up in typical regency garb of a forest green which was, surprisingly enough, just as uncomfortable as he had imagined it to be when he'd watched the 1995 miniseries. How had Colin Firth made it look so effortless? All he wanted to do was pull on his neckcloth until he could breath; gone was the romantic fantasy of sweeping Elizabeth Bennet into his arms or being romanced by Mr. Darcy.

The drink had been shoved into his hands by one of the staff at this function and that helped him to be a bit more comfortable with his lot in life. Yep, he was no stranger to drinks being shoved in his hands. Point in fact, so many of his best~~worst~~ mistakes have been bourne upon the wings of alcohol. Well, already he could see that mistakes were going to be had.

Might as well commit to them.

The drink though? Had no right to be so delicious, even as he shoved the little green cherry garnish into his mouth. There was a rising in the pit of his abdomen, part nervousness, part something else. It was something that felt suspiciously like, happiness, well fuck, that was a rare one ]

You know, I don't think this will be that bad, yeah. Sure, the cravat is borderline choking me, but I'm starting to be into it.

:IDYLLIC DISASTER:

[ Once Quentin stepped over the threshold, he was treated to a space and time distortion of the most impossible degree. He was thinking about all of the episodes of Dr Who that he had ever watched as well as how this was definitely bigger on the inside. The sense of adventure in the pit of his stomach fornicated with every single nervous thought he'd ever had. When a Dryad tickled lightly underneath his chin, well of course he was going to follow-- how could he not.

It was not very effective though and the end game was not to catch them, but to follow them and their frangipani scent and how it was earthy and deep, full of promise and desire. He was a disaster and right now he was unable to help himself.

All well and good.. until he got lost and with the world spinning in a haze of verdant madness around him and the fireflies turning into kinetic wisps that blurred with motion. Except they were not moving, he was. ]

Oh fuck.. [ Quentin said as he fell to his knees, his hand pressed against a tree trunk as he attempted a few steadying breaths. ] Is there some sort of drunk in the drinks? [ Another pause ] I meant drugs.. it's me, I'm the drunk.

:IT'S GETTING HOT IN HERE:

[ The heat of his restrictive clothing was getting too much for himself to bear comfortably as the night grew later and later. And thus, the moment that he came across the pond, he found himself scrambling out of his clothing. Yes, perhaps he was not going to be able to get into them the exact way that he had been put into by his valet, but that was 'hour-from-now' Quentin's problem. The green drink coupled with his own hubris was setting him on a crash-course into further bad decisions.

Once he slipped into the water was when he noticed the slightest sprinkling of pollen dust that had managed to get just underneath his collar (funny that it should, since the damn thing had been so tight.) however once he attempted to brush against the glow dust, he was finding that it just was not coming off.

Quentin dipped under water then, re-emerging a sputtering mess as he glanced down, the mark was still absolutely there like some 24-hour nightmare mascara that Bambi wore unfailingly. He would continue to rub it, however it just seemed to spread, then he glanced up as he heard a light splash ]

Who's there? [ He managed to call out in a breathless and embarrassed sort of whisper. Gods, he'd been mortified to be caught out like this indulging in the waters when he wasn't even sure it was allowed. ]

WILD CARD

Hello, this is Nia! TDMing my second Trauma Wizard so please be gentle! Anyone not in the TON, you can find me at alwaysbeenasmiler Discord: ZemnianJoy#0664. If you TDM as a Magicians cast member and don't have an invite, feel free to HMU-- I have (2)

Anyone in the TON-- *wink wink nudge nudge* If you know, you know.

Great rolling with either Prose or Brackets, and Quentin's UN name is "Nothingmancer"

Edited 2023-05-27 22:03 (UTC)

[Not one to shy away from a dress code, Essek comes in his best green jacket and black and gold waistcoat and partakes carefully of any libations and food. It was just yesterday that cake made him feel sick with emotions that were not his, so he feels cautious of any other drink of food provided by Pheme.

And with good reason as he watches a number of people seem to jump up at some unknown opportunity after drinking.

The man next to him looks good, quite dashing in his get up and there was something about his eyes that initially felt familiar, drew him in unknowingly.]

They are rather intense about adhering to the local fashions here and cravats are an almost every occasion staple -- well, at least if you plan to stay with the more.. ah, masculine fashions.

[ The entire ball was awash with light and colours and it was beautiful; the party wasn't as raucous as one at the Physical Kids house, but that was just fine-- that really suited him. He still felt like a weasel stuck in a museum filled with fine things but that was okay, really it was because for once he was not feeling the touch of his thoughts getting in his way.

It was as if this place was absolutely magic-- but a differet sort of magic from Fillory, from anything he had ever encountered. And he felt rather drunk from it. ]

Oh, no.. I would totally not look good in a dress, and that's only something that someone I was with could ask, but I'm not.. with anyone that is so that's a moot point. [ His mind drew to something but he quickly dismissed that ] Is it normal for guys to wear dresses here? Not that I'm judging-- it's cool if they do.

[ There was definitely an awkwardness that was reminiscent of a certain fire wizard, but it lacked the intensity to it. Quentin glanced over at the man sitting next to him on the bench and he offered a tentative smile.

Ah, more pretty people. ]

Edited 2023-05-28 00:11 (UTC)

[The ball was beautiful and extravagant, a gorgeous display of Pheme's powers and taste, something that Essek was becoming less enchanted with every time. Still, it was a sight to behold, even he knew and acknowledged that.

Even if he was holding the drink in his hand without yet sipping on it. He was still trying to determine the kind of magics it might be laced with before he partook.]

Hm, you have a firm jaw shape, yes, it would take a style of dress that is not particularly popular here to compliment it. [His smile is polite and practiced, something of a comfortable mask he often wears in court and around those he does not know well.]

And no, though no one frowns on it. A number of women partake in masculine fashion, but I've not seen any other men besides myself wearing the more feminine fashions. [There was a lilt to his voice each time he says masculine or feminine that almost sounds as if those are concepts others are concerned with. Fashion was genderless to him, he was happy to wear a dress without issue.

He wore one just yesterday in fact.]

[ a raise of his brow even as he took a measured sip of it; it was a fancy crystal glass though-- when he was used to solo cups; this place was the fancy parties that he'd seen on television, he knew there were certain people who would adore this. ]

A dress not popular here? Okay, now I'm curious-- what sort of dress are you imagining for me?

[ That was a valid question and Quentin knew nothing about fashion. This thing had been picked out by his retainer/valet and he wore it, even though eventually he was going to wiggle out of it and thus have the hardest time doing back up the neckcloth. ] I know nothing about fashion..

[ Clearly.. ]

I. WELCOME

II. AN INVITATION

Quentin Coldwater | The Magicians

Darcy

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From death to life

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light danganronpa spoilers

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It's getting hot in here (thanks for getting song stuck in my head...)

YOU ARE WELCOME - free service I provide

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idyllic disaster

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It's way too hot in here.

Bout to get hotter--

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Death to life

Re: Death to life

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