bumfuckidaho | TEST DRIVE MEME, APRIL 2017.

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TEST DRIVE MEME, APRIL 2017.

TEST DRIVE MEME

There was an accident. That's basically the only thing you know for certain. Maybe a car wreck - metal and broken glass everywhere, and the sirens and the screaming. Or maybe there was an explosion. Maybe your bike hit a rock and you careened uncontrollably off a mountain path. You can't can't quite make out the details, not who was at fault or why. Try as you might, the chaos is all you can remember.

It's also the last thing you remember from before you wake up here.

When you open your eyes, the accident is gone. Instead, you're in a hospital bed – the nursing staff greets you with a cheerful smile.

Welcome to Wayward Pines, they tell you. You'll make a full recovery here.

option one
WELCOME TO WAYWARD PINES

The hospital staff had seemed very friendly, but ultimately unhelpful when it came to answering your questions, insisting you shouldn't worry about such things, and that it was smarter to just rest until you'd fully recovered.

That was some time ago. You've since managed to leave the hospital – either via escape, or simply by waiting patiently and filling out paperwork until they finally agreed to release you. Now you've found yourself in the small but hearty town of Wayward Pines, Idaho. It's a charming little place, and the people there are all friendly enough, more than willing to greet you on the street, or give you directions if you need them.

Unless you're asking for directions out of town, of course.

Some will simply smile and give you a hearty pat on the shoulder and ask why you'd ever want to do a thing like that? Others will get quiet for a moment, and direct you to the nearest sign posted near the doorway of every building.

Don't bother taking the road, either. Whether you walk or get your hands on a vehicle, you won't get anywhere. The road simply takes you away from town for a short while before looping around and bringing you right back in.

There's no use questioning things, and it seems pretty useless to try to leave. So really, why not stay a while? Everyone's convinced that you'll find something to love in Wayward Pines.

(For the purposes of this test drive, you're welcome to handwave the existence of basically any local business or activity.)

option two
INTO THE WOODS

You've just heard a scream from the woods.

I mean, it could've been an animal. There's bound to be some kind of wildlife amongst the trees, right? But then again, it did sound awfully... human.

Though all of the locals nearby conceal a flinch at the sound, they'll assure you it's nothing, if you ask them. Why, you're probably just hearing things! (But with an anxious undertone of stop asking questions.) If you're curious, though, and brave enough to go see, they won't make any move to stop you from going into the wooded area surrounding the town.

The trees are tall, and their branches are thick enough to block out a significant amount of sunlight from breaking through the canopy, leaving the forest floor a little dimmer and cooler than the streets of town.

Whatever the source of the scream was, you won't be able to find it out here. An experienced hunter might notice some signs of a struggle, and a few faint boot prints, but they don't really seem to lead anywhere in particular.

What you will find, if you walk far enough, is a fence. A big one - at least 30 feet tall, made of metal and concrete. It goes on quite a ways in either direction as well; follow the wall far enough, and you'll see that it connects with the steep, sheer cliffs that surround the rest of Wayward Pines, effectively boxing the town in.

In actuality, you'll probably feel it before you see it. A full 500 yards from the wall, when it's hardly a shadowy smudge through the trees, you start to feel a little bit tired, a little bit weak. Trouble is, the closer you get, the weaker you feel - like the wall itself is sapping the strength out of you, and the closer you get, the worse it feels. Any powers you may have had grow weaker in kind as you make your way to the fence, but even ordinary humans will find their strength sapping away. By the time you're close enough to read the signs and to feel the crackle of electricity radiating from the thick wires criss-crossing the wall's metal surface, you're too weak to stand.

Do you crawl closer still and risk electrocution, or do you crawl away and assess the situation once you're far enough from the fence to be able to stand?

option three
PTA BAKE SALE

It's that time of year again. The time when everyone digs into their wallet, ignores their diet, and spends a little time supporting the local school bake fair. You know, for the good of the children. And it doesn't hurt that Linda's Blondie recipe is honestly to die for. The school PTA has pulled out all the stops this year in the hopes of encouraging a good community turn out, posters advertising the sale plastering every street corner and stuffed into every mailbox for a solid week leading up to the event, and today is finally the day.

There's at least two dozen different tables set up with all manner of delectable treats, even one or two offering vegan alternatives for those inclined, not to mention a few others catering to some of the townspeople's more... unique palates.

Maybe you've got your own table set up with your wares, or maybe you were simply lured to the park today by the appetizing scents wafting through the air. Either way it seems like the whole town has come out to show their support today and why wouldn't they? Children are our future, aren't they? Or maybe it's just Linda's Blondie recipe.

Yeah, that's probably it.

option four
ON THE NETWORK

Though it's not as high-tech as you might be used to (or hell, maybe you're ren faire and it's centuries beyond anything you've seen), but Wayward Pines does in fact have a network to accommodate its citizens.

Go ahead, post a network post! Just note that the network currently has two basic functions. The first is audio-only and can be accessed from the telephones in each character's home. If an audio-based medium doesn't suit your needs (or aesthetics), be sure to take advantage of the Wayward Pines Message Board from your brand new laptop for the chance to communicate with your fellow townspeople in a text-based format instead!

( a few notes )

Welcome to our third test drive here in The Pines! Just one important thing to note:

Upon arrival in Wayward Pines, characters find themselves struggling to remember entirely who they were or where they came from. Memories return progressively over the next two weeks. You're welcome to play with this mechanic in any of these prompts, but it's definitely not mandatory! For more details on this temporary memory loss, see our FAQ.

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Good. I'd hate to drive away new friends.

[He'll take his hand and shake it in return.]

Maybe. I can't really remember. They said I got in some sort of accident. Can't remember that either... [He looks around to make sure nobody obvious is nearby listening, speaking more quietly because he knows they don't like you talking about your past here.] I'm pretty sure I was living at some sort of camp though so I don't think I've been here for very long. [He definitely isn't going to bring up some of the other things he remembers because that would probably freak anyone out.]

You've read about that kind of stuff too? [Or lived it, in his case? But he's not going to type that.]

[Normally, he might protest at having his hair smoothed, but he allows it this time, too bothered about what's going on here to complain.

He hesitates before holding out the piece of paper to her.] Somebody stopped by and gave me this, said I wasn't supposed to talk about the past... I don't get it. Am I... Am I not even supposed to talk about how you're my...? [He trails off, because he doesn't really want to get in trouble again. But he remembers her; he's positive she's his sister. Why is there a stupid rule about not talking about the past? It's so dumb. It's not like they can remember much anyway, which makes the whole thing even more weird and suspicious to him.]

"The Brothers Grimm." Another response that was almost immediate. He liked those kinds of stories because... because it was like what his family did, he thought?

He followed her along, reaching out and brushing his fingers over the spines of some of them as his eyes flicked over the different titles. "... I don't know which ones I've read," he said with some reluctant frustration, nothing coming to mind as he tried to spot even just one that he knew was familiar.

Max just blinked at Alec for a moment. He was... married? To a guy?

Then he gave a little shrug and said, "Okay." His reaction would be about the same even if Alec had said he had married a girl. It was more that he was married that had Max pausing for a moment than anything else. "Are Mom and Dad going to come get me or am I supposed to stay with you now...? Or somewhere else?" He looked a bit reluctant at the thought of staying with people he didn't know or didn't remember, but if their parents showed up, at least Alec or Izzy could confirm who they were, right? And he trusted Alec and Izzy.

"Here's a collection of all of the Brothers Grimm stories." It was a thick two inch book. "Why not start with this?"

Clary pulled it from the shelf and passed it over to him.

[Reaching out for the pamphlet, Izzy moves to actually look through it while listening to what Max has to say. After a moment Izzy lowers the pamphlet and turns her attention to her little brother, a smile on her face.

She doesn't want him to worry.] You can talk about the fact that I'm your sister, Max. That's okay. This town is just a little....quirky when it comes to talking about the past in more detail. [She's definitely doing what she can to help here, even if she, like her little brother, thinks that it is stupid.]

It's a little complicated, and I won't pretend that I know the reasoning behind it, but it's not so bad. [She holds up the pamphlet Max was given that is still in her hand.] This was just give to try and help you, I think. We can talk more about it with Alec and Magnus. That sound okay?

that means a lot to me man

thanks

Of course Seel was already at work. They were somewhere both completely strange and completely familiar at the same time. Their survival depended upon the connections they made here, and keeping up appearances. So he was going to play along, meet the neighbors and bring some pie, because when you boiled it all down to the base parts, it was a role he knew. At the very least he could make some friends. Screw you, Cal.

"I have time to get ready still. Don't think it meant something that it didn't." It totally meant something. He wasn't going to leave you to die out there, couldn't. The two of them had too much history, whichever memories they were going by. Yes Cal, you could rest assured, Seel wouldn't be the one to kill you as you slept.

"Are you going to come?"

i have vague memories of reading a lot of horror and paranormal stuff and a fair amount of fantasy. There's a lot of Tolkien on the shelves of what they tell me is my house.

Wise way to put it. I think we all need as many friends and-or allies as we can find in this place.

"Small mercies," the small man remarks. "I think I'm stronger than I look, though they haven't given me much of a chance to test it out. They haven't given me much of a chance at anything, but I suspect that's part of their little... game or ritual or experiment or ...whatever it is." He's pulled together a bit, but he's also getting visibly annoyed, glaring up at the wall now.

His shoulders might sink a bit, not in dejection, nor in resignation, but almost deflating a bit, as if some of the initial annoyance has dissipated, but the irritation hasn't completely faded, as if it's a part of his basic personality. "I can't remember who I am, but I suspect I wasn't the sort of man to take these things at face value, like some well-trained little drone. Not without some good reason behind these orders, if you will."

It's a hard-earned wisdom and it often hurt. But I do agree. At least with that.

"I wasn't planning on it. And while I'm sorely tempted just to see what excuses you'll make for me, neither of us need that antagonism right now." Or ever, but that was a dream, really. Seel would probably appreciate some time away from his damaging influences or whatever, too, and besides, it would give Cal some time for spying and all those sneaky things Seel hated. There was no way to lose.

"Do let me know if there's any good gossip." There wouldn't be. Not the kind he cared about, anyway. "I'm absolutely dying without news of domestic scandal."

Seel glared at him, trying not to seethe but Cal made it so easy sometimes. Or maybe that was just a sore spot, a giant gaping wound called 'Cal' at the centre of his being that made all of his habits and words both endearing and completely obnoxious at the same time. But he was right. Not that Seel was ever saying that outloud. But they didn't need the extra anger and irritation it would bring out. Let Seel work in peace, thanks.

"I'm sure you are. It must be far too quiet here for your tastes." He turned getting ready to head back and get ready, whether or not Cal was going to follow him. As long as Cal went out of the woods, that was all that mattered. He could go hang out at the grocery store for all he cared.

"Think you can pick up some groceries while I'm gone? Coffee and cigarettes at least?"

Seel didn't really feel that much stronger than he looked at all, but for the human? He'd have to take his word for it. Seel at the moment had the strength of a small woman, so it was taking some effort to haul Milton across the ground and away from the fence. "Exactly. We don't know. And running off without knowing what's going on is foolish."

He sighed at the other, pausing to rest and crossed his arms, likewise irritated. " Well if that's not a good reason not to run into the woods half crazed than I don't know what is. You don't know who you are but you were going to run and take on...whatever is going on here? Whatever made that scream or did something to cause that scream?" Honestly, it was like people didn't use their brains anymore. The drone comment got to him though, that stung, and he glared. Why had that comment hurt more than the others?

He's not coming the most willingly, but he's allowing himself to be lead away from the fence, dissuaded from his pointless search, but dragging his heels a bit. He might glance back behind them, toward the fence, but he can easily be coaxed onward back to town. "I had to find the cause of that sound," he admits. "My initial instinct was to run away from it: a purely human response. But something else, a secondary, more powerful though conditioned reaction kicked in.

He falls silent for a moment, his jaw working thoughtfully, as if somehow that helps him to focus. Then he speaks. "I think I was in law enforcement of some kind. That impulse which drove me here under the trees was to find the cause of that scream, to protect the person in distress, whoever they were, to drive off the cause of their woe."

It was hard not to laugh at the irony of Seel ordering him around now, even if he'd phrased it as a request. It wasn't. And there would damn well be hell to pay if coffee and cigarettes weren't on a counter when Seel got back. The essentials, then. Although Cal doubted even a har could survive long on coffee and cigarettes alone, although he'd given it a good try for a long time, albeit supplemented with copious amounts of alcohol.

"I shall do my poor best, tiahaar," he made sure to add a flourish to his overly grand bow. "Are there any other reqyests you'd like to make while we're making them? Get them all out of the way?"

Humans were such a pain in the ass. Seel was tempted to just let him sit out here and die, wait for whatever was making that sound and whatever that wall was for. Fine. Be that way. But at least he was making progress. Slow progress. It would be so much easier if this guy would help him.

"I just want to make sure I get this all straight. You ran into the woods, toward a menacing sound, with no idea who you are, where you are, what's going on, and you have no weapons. For someone who was law enforcement that sounds like kind of a stupid thing to do." Sorry Milton, apparently Seel wasn't in diplomat mode. He'd so much rather be a bitch.

"Next time, might want to listen to your instincts. You can't protect others if you get yourself killed."

There would definitely have to be some pecking order put into place soon, or Seel was going to take advantage of Cal's generosity. Given the opportunity he would walk all over him. Seel was an opportunist, and he'd had little power in his life recently and, like a misbehaving teenager, he was going to test his limits.

"Maybe a couple of bottles of wine? I trust you can manage that." Seel almost said that he trusted Cal's time in Immanion had provided him with a refined palate and good choice in vintage, but that would be allowing Cal to reassert himself, and they couldn't have that could they? Even if Cal was allowing it at the moment. Toying with him.

And yes, unless slapped down like an upstart child, there would be hell to pay if Cal did not at least get cigarettes and coffee. And now wine. Because why ever did you ask Cal, if you did not think you could get it done? What good were you anyway? What the hell else could you have possibly been doing?

Get the coffee Cal.

Mentally bracing for the kind of reaction their parents would have, he slowly began to realize that Max didn't care. He didn't have a problem with who Alec married. Maybe he'd never heard their opinions of it since...

Since Alec had come out of the closet after...

Maybe he should have Magnus look Max over and see if he noticed anything unusual since Alec was almost certain that he remembered Max being gone. "I'll check with the hospital to see if they're there. If they're not, you'll stay with me and Izzy." He didn't think they'd be there, but Alec had to be sure.

As he tried to concentrate on what had happened in New York, the memories became nebulous. Maybe he hadn't remembered a death. Maybe it had been leaving his family that had caused that much heartbreak. "Izzy doesn't remember much about why she came here but they might have sent you both here while they deal with stuff back home."

[ Percy's listening and it's all well and good, when -- ]

Wait. Did you just say 'camp'?

[ Why does he even care about a camp? Kids go to camp all the time.

No. No, it's something. It's something he can feel at the very edge of his memory, annoying like an itch he can't find to scratch. ]

"I might be able to figure it out." Judging from the way he was behaving, though, it was a wonder Seel trusted him to do anything more complicated than sitting still in the house, staring at the walls. He'd seemed perfectly content to pretend Cal didn't exist before, so why was he so concerned now? Beyond the obviousness of needing another har around. He was happy to playing at friends for now, but how long until Cal would have to put his foot down? And what would the reaction be? How very not good could it get?

"Should I wait up for you too, or do you think you'll be too worn out from all that networking?" Maybe the sarcaam was uncalled for, but he had long ago stopped caring whether it was or not. Long before this place, anyway. Or was it? He couldn't quite remember. Long before this coversation, that much he knew.

Max visibly relaxed when told he could stay with Alec and Izzy. And Magnus, since it sounded like he lived with Max's siblings too. It'd make sense if Magnus and Alec were married, after all. Now Max was curious what Magnus was like, if he was someone like them, someone who was aware of the dangers of demons in the world, or if he was someone who didn't know or have any experience with anything like that.

The last thing that Alec said diverted his attention before he could ask though, tilting his head to the side in slight worry now. "Deal with what...? Did something bad happen?" He wasn't sure if Alec was talking about dealing with some demon problem or if it was something less serious. He hoped it was the latter.

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