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Test Drive Meme #1
A Choice to Make
In the midst of your mundane existence, amidst a meal's consumption or perhaps amidst a desperate struggle for survival, you find yourself teetering on the precipice between consciousness and oblivion. Whether it's the mundanity of everyday life or the shock of an unforeseen revelation, the next chapter in your tale is etched in the unfathomable tapestry of destiny. Abruptly, a shimmering azure tear in reality wrenches you from your reality, hurling you into the depths of a foreboding cavern. Within its shadows, two sinister whispers assail your senses, each vying for control over the path you must tread. One beckons from the left, promising dominion and power under the aegis of an enigmatic ruler, while the other lures from the right, pledging a noble crusade for justice and salvation. With each step, the choice you make echoes with the weight of eternity, determining the very fabric of your existence
As you stand at the crossroads of fate, the air thickens with anticipation, suffused with a palpable sense of ominous uncertainty. The leftward passage glimmers with an otherworldly allure, hinting at the seductive allure of authority and supremacy. Yet, the rightward path beckons with an ethereal glow, resonating with the righteous fervor of a hero's quest to vanquish darkness. Each voice, a siren's call to divergent destinies, casts its spell upon your soul, weaving a labyrinth of moral ambiguity. For in this twilight realm where the veil between worlds grows thin, your decision is not merely a choice but a covenant with forces beyond mortal comprehension. Whichever path you elect to traverse, know that the consequences shall echo through eternity, shaping the very essence of your being in ways unfathomable to mortal minds.
- Evil
Emerging from the left tunnel, you step into a labyrinthine city carved from the very bones of the earth, illuminated by flickering torchlight that casts eerie shadows upon the twisted visages of its denizens. Monsters, grotesque and malformed, roam the streets with a purpose that sends shivers down your spine. It becomes chillingly apparent that within this infernal metropolis, your destiny lies entwined with a bid for power at the side of a shadowy sovereign. Amidst the clamor of preparation, the temple to the enigmatic entity known as the First Evil looms ominously, its dark allure drawing in supplicants like moths to a flame. Should your throat grow parched from the fervent chants of devotion, the Cantina offers solace in its crude embrace, a sanctuary that exudes an aura of ancient malevolence amidst its clay and stone walls.
Yet, amidst the sinister ambiance, whispers of knowledge beckon, promising insight into the machinations of this unholy realm. Seekers of truth may find guidance from well-intentioned demons or delve into the esoteric depths of the Stacks, where secrets lie entombed within dusty tomes of forgotten lore. As curiosity compels you to explore further, the Bringers, sinister heralds of the impending darkness, stand ready to lead you to your abode, a cold stone sanctuary where dreams are haunted by the specter of impending conflict. And for those who prefer the solace of steel and the embrace of weaponry, the armory awaits, a chamber resonant with the echoes of impending strife, offering a grim reminder that in this realm, even sleep is fraught with the specter of violence.
2. Good
Venturing through the right-hand tunnel was a pact, a commitment to a harrowing struggle that now unfolds before you. Emerging into the realm beyond, you are met by a spectral figure, a girl whose countenance shifts with each passing moment, a testament to the legion of vampire slayers that populate this accursed domain. She, like her brethren, is both warrior and guide, leading you through the labyrinthine streets with a cryptic explanation that betrays the gravity of the task ahead. Together, you traverse the shadowed avenues, passing landmarks cloaked in enigma, such as The Odeon, a den of debauchery where the echoes of revelry mingle with the cries of the damned. With a sardonic grin, she points towards the gym, a crucible where the art of combat is honed amidst the backdrop of impending doom.
As you journey further into the heart of darkness, the Resurrection Cemetery looms ominously, a sepulchral sentinel guarding the threshold of a towering edifice—the colossal teaching hospital that casts a pall of dread over the surrounding streets. Amidst a labyrinth of silence and apprehension, you arrive at your destination, standing before the facade of the Doubletree Hotel, its ostentatious glamour a stark juxtaposition against the encroaching shadows of desolation. Yet, even as the hotel's opulence beckons, a lingering sense of foreboding whispers tales of recent upheaval, hinting at secrets buried beneath layers of opulent facade.
A Grave to Dig – Resurrection Cemetery
Patrol, it's the nightly routine for slayers, a dance with darkness amidst the tombstones, where the soulless minions of evil lurk in the shadows, ever loyal to the malevolent machinations of The First Evil. A cemetery of this magnitude, its layout intricate and labyrinthine, serves as the perfect battleground for the eternal struggle against the forces of darkness. But it is patrol, right? Surely you're not taking a detour to The Odeon without your trusty stake and crossbow. Strange choices in these perilous times, indeed.
This graveyard pulses with the heartbeat of vampiric activity tonight, more undead rising from their graves than ever before. Will you recruit them into the fold of darkness, their loyalty pledged to The First? Or will you stand as their nemesis, driving a stake through their unbeating hearts? The choice looms before you, a decision that could tip the scales of this eternal conflict, determining whether you become their savior or their midnight snack.
A Party to Crash – The Odeon
Amidst the haunting melodies of an otherworldly band, The Odeon pulsates with the feverish energy of revelers seeking solace in food, drink, and a hell of a time. At the jumpstart of the bash, there’s no doubt you'll get to soak up some of that vibe. But lurking amidst the revelry, there's more than just party plans brewing.
If you've been getting those Slayer senses tinglin' 'bout the graveyard gig, hold onto your stakes 'cause The Odeon's gonna be jumpin' too. Within the shadowed halls of The Odeon, a palpable tension lingers, as The First Evil's malevolent design looms ominously over the unsuspecting patrons. In this twilight realm where the line between good and evil blurs, the clash between opposing forces is inevitable, and it's here, amidst the haunting melodies and whispered secrets, that the true test of one's training and arcane talents shall unfold.
Maddie Nears | School Spirits | Good
Haunted Hotel, totally cool with spoilers!
"Hello," he adds to the wave. He'd always rather be friendly than not, and putting off dealing with the hotel is an attractive choice. Besides, he's interacted with ghosts before. They always seem like they could use a little more attention than they got.
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"Sorry, not used to people talking to me." Maddie sighed and swung to sitting up on the sofa rather than just taking up the whole thing. She'd been mostly ignored when she was alive, so being dead - or whatever she was now, didn't feel like much of a change except for the people that she wanted to see her.
And none of them were here.
"Weird glowy portal and then a cave?" She wanted to be sure they all had the same general trip here, just to know what the hell she was in for now.
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She knew now, it wasn't that light. But at the time she was very confused with being pulled out of her several problems already in motion.
"Not entirely sure how I can help protect anything." Maddie was sitting on the sofa, it gave way under her like she was really there. But she wasn't, not in the physical 'I can save the world' sense. "I'm Maddie. I'd shake your hand but that's not really a thing I do anymore."
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He smiles at her not-offer of a handshake, and instead inclines his head and shoulders in a little half-bow of greeting. "I'm Jack."
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"Maybe they need someone to offer them tea and polite discussion on if Humanity really needs ending or whatever's going on." She didn't believe a word of what she just said, but who knows, maybe the idea is funny enough to be worth it.
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She's in no way ready to talk about herself and why 'ghost' and 'dead' are far more complicated than they should be. So while she probably did need a sympathetic ear, she wasn't going to use one anytime soon, "I've learned that what you see of a person, and what they're like, are never so easy to put together. So who knows. Maybe the forces of evil do just need therapy."
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"...I don't even have my wallet." She hadn't truly considered it, for the past month. But her wallet was in her backpack, and her backpack didn't come along for the ride. Lost with her necklace and coat to the land of the living.
so sorry for the delay!!
B! 100% canon blind and a-okay with spoilers!
So, obviously, he'd taken his own drink and meandered over nearby, not close enough to be uncomfortable, but close enough that he didn't have to raise his voice to be heard when he replied. He had to squash the immediate urge to be sarcastic or make a joke, something about how jocks made a lot of people feel invisible, and honestly his restraint should have been rewarded, considering how infrequently he exercised it.
"Yeah, I can see you just fine. I take it that's not the norm?" He figured either something (else) was going on or the guys at the bar were somehow totally oblivious to cute girls. One of those was a lot harder to believe than the other. "I like your trick, by the way," he added, gesturing to the soda in her hand.
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"I'm Maddie, and my trick only works because the mortal world is just out of my reach." Being a ghost was not the worst thing in the world. Being trapped in high school for the foreseeable forever was. Being a ghost in Cleveland was, a bit, of an improvement. "Plus it isn't like the bartender could see me anyway, or take my money. Really making me think coming out to a bar wasn't my brightest plan."
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Someone else probably would have expressed their condolences or something, but Kavinsky wasn't someone else. "Yeah, I'm not great at rules, either. Think I'm allergic to 'em." He'd been thinking, before, that sometimes it'd be nice to just go about life under the radar, not constantly hearing people talk about him, but an alternative like that? Usually going unseen by living people? It sounded like hell.
"Kavinsky," he replied, as his own introduction. "And I mean, coming out here still seems like a fine idea? Like, what's the alternative? Being alone somewhere?" He scrunched his face at the thought. "Places like this have a good atmosphere." Unless, he supposed, you were invisible to most people...and being reminded of it was awful. "Personally, I always throw a party when shit's fucked. And I throw 'em even when everything's fine."
He didn't want to ask what had happened to her, even if he was curious--it was personal and it would be prying and he was pretty sure, from his experience with Prokopenko, that rehashing potentially traumatic shit wasn't cathartic for anyone. So instead, he said, "Sounds like you've got the hang of all this, though." Like, how shit worked, at least.
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Even if they could just walk through her like she wasn't there, barreling through a person feels rude, so if you see her you don't. She wasn't much for parties when she was real and alive, good or bad mood, so she couldn't relate on that. "I think I mostly came out because I've been trapped in my high school the past two months. Ghosts aren't allowed to jump the fence. So it's been nice to have different options of food to take."
"You've gotten yourself all set-up here, did you arrive with a fake ID or did you pick one up?" Maddie could steal alcohol if she wanted, but she didn't. Too many moments of her childhood were ruined by what her mom did for her to trust herself around it. Even if she can't really get drunk.
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The idea of being trapped in a high school, any high school, sounded just as bad though. He was already planning on burning his Aglionby uniform--especially the fucking tie--after he graduated, and never looking back. But- "What do you mean, can't jump the fence? Is your school some kind of ghost trap?" He didn't even have any theories he could muse on for that--he didn't know shit about ghosts.
For a beat, he didn't reply to the question. He knew it would be stupid to openly admit he wasn't actually old enough to drink--which sometimes he thought was also stupid, since he was legally considered an adult--but he didn't think anybody was paying attention, and he didn't think she'd snitch. "Got a new one since I've been here," he said. He was aware that implied he'd had more than one fake ID in the past but, he hadn't really used it that much. At least, not in Henrietta; it hadn't been a secret he was months away from graduating Aglionby. He'd had other methods, then.
"If there's ever a time to need a drink, it feels like it'd be now, you know?" he added. Really, it was equal parts finding himself suddenly in Ohio for mysterious reasons, and the way too recent memory of Ronan telling him he wasn't good enough.
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It helped that, the person who mentioned fake IDs, wasn't visible to most of the city and therefore if you keep it cryptic nobody has to know the topic. Her town didn't have much use for fake IDs, getting alcohol for parties was easy enough without one. Just had to know the right people. Her douchebag ex boyfriend being one of them. "Wouldn't know, I don't drink. When I was twelve I tried some of what mom was drinking at it was straight whiskey."
Also 'what mom was drinking' was an omnipresent sorespot of her life. So after that curiosity backfired horribly she'd been too busy cleaning up to ever feel that need. Even while dead. (Not that there was ready access to alcohol trapped in a school as a ghost.)
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It took a lot of effort not to comment that whiskey was good though--when you were twelve and it was your first taste of alcohol, it was probably awful. "That's fair. Sometimes-" he hesitated, then shook his head. He actually didn't want to bring up his own mother, as it turned out. Instead, he said, "You know, that's why I make sure to have options when I throw parties. I don't actually give a shit if someone's there to drink or if they aren't- they should just be able to have fun." Fuck peer pressure, basically. Of course, he still threw parties that had specific themes or requirements, but those were always clearly communicated so people knew ahead of time if they were interested in attending or not.
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Maybe going to the other side means Dawn finally got to find out what happened to Vine. That's a nice thought.
"I've never been one for parties, I'm not exactly..." she gestured down at what was lovingly called 'Kurt Cobain cosplay' by one of her teachers. Faded jeans, tank top, red flanne. "Popular. I'm sure you throw great parties, but that's never been what I'm about. I'm a horror movies and junk food sort of girl."
Hell, most of her school didn't know her name. Another fun discovery after her disappearance, six people cared and at some point or another she had genuine concerns each of them might have killed her.
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"The idea of popularity's kind of fucked up, anyway. Like, am I supposed to care if the whole school loves someone? If they're hot or really good at throwing a football or whatever? There's a lot of other shit that's way more important about a person." Like loyalty and dedication and the sort of sense of humor that could make him laugh until, for a little while, he forgot about all of the shit he had to deal with.
"But that's fair; parties aren't for everyone. One of my boys is really into horror movies, actually, gets so fuckin' excited every time it's his turn to pick what we watch on movie nights." His tone was nothing but fond. "They're not what I usually watch, but they're not bad." Which, coming from him, meant he'd pretty much always actually enjoyed the movies Skov picked. Even if Kavinsky teased him sometimes about it; they all knew their friendship was solid.
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The actual number of murders was low, all but one accidents. Tragic, unavoidable, and with so much ahead of them. All with something chaining them to the school.
Maddie stayed quiet at the railing over popularity. The most popular girl at school was Maddie's friend once, when she was eight. Before Maddie sent her packing and stopped being her friend out of fear. So all of that? Was on her. Sleeping with Maddie's boyfriend was on Claire. But all that money and status Claire had she did work for, in spite of also being a messed up basketcase blackmailing teachers and stealing boyfriends. "I hate to say it, but high school is just a huge disaster we survive and move on from."
"And what's you're usual thing for movies?" It was the obvious question, Maddie leaned forward to study him. Considering him from what he said. "So- kung-fu action flicks? Maybe something blood, sex and guns? Or are you about crass comedies about jackasses stumbling through life?"
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"Fucking truth," he muttered, before taking a sip of his drink. "I graduate next year, in the spring. Can't wait to get out." He wanted to feel like he could breathe again, move on to better things, a place that wasn't Henrietta. He wanted to study-...fuck, he didn't know. Art or nature or something. Maybe both.
He couldn't help but grin at the question. "Anything with cars in 'em, really. A specific focus, you know- street racing, car chases. Action stuff I guess, yeah. Shit that gets your blood pumping. It's the next best thing to being behind the wheel, myself."
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She also was meant to graduate in the spring. Only now she might not. Missed too many days of school, several crimes committed she can't really contest as a ghost. Not that it mattered, she didn't have any chance at college anymore. Her face just read a mix of unease at this topic, not saying anything right away. Until she remembered that doesn't make it seem better, "So we're the same age, more or less."
"So you just drive, or are you one of those guys who spends the weekend elbow deep in car guts and grease?" It was a genuine question, because it was nice to get to know someone new. Someone she hadn't known all her life, or been stuck with in the hereafter by fate. Someone close enough to her she could understand, but wasn't her exact copy. And she desperately wanted to get away from topics too close to herself right now.
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But then- he hadn't thought about the fact she wasn't going to get to graduate high school when he'd mentioned it, but he realized why her expression was the way it was after a moment. He looked away for a moment, and though he didn't apologize, it was only so he didn't draw more attention to things. "Yeah?" He said instead. "So you're...seventeen? Eighteen?"
Talking about cars was easier, though. Safer, not tied to any traumas or anything. "I'm not so good under the hood. Something fucks up, I usually just take it to the mechanic's." Parrish did good work, and Kavinsky trusted his mechanical knowledge, even though he was pretty sure the other boy despised him. "But I could drive all day--or night. The sound of the engine is just- it's like nothing else exists, no stress, no problems."