TEST DRIVE MEME, APRIL 2017.

[officialnotice]

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.

Comments

[immanionorchid]

Dignity. He almost laughed at that. Seel was the one so very upset by this. He could have let Cal run off on his own and hope that he'd keel over dead. That would have solved a lot of his problems. It would have caused other ones, but he'd be free of Cal and his poisonous influence or whatever it was he was so upset about.

"You started this one." He'd tried to resist saying it, he just couldn't. He'd offered Seel a shot and if he wasn't going to take it, fine. He should probably appreciate that. He wasn't going to offer again. He had his teeth too. Just because he'd been raised didn't mean he'd been defanged.

"Are you finished? Or did you want to yell a little more? My suggestion is to turn around and head back since, evidently, we aren't going any farther, but if you'd rather dwell for another moment or two, it might be best to stay here."

[dreamsallotted]

It was such a pain in the ass when Calanthe was the mature one. Seel wanted to bite and scream and hiss and it just wasn't the same when he couldn't get a good rise. It was still therapeutic though, to thoroughly rip into someone. But, he was really trying not too, at least here. He couldn't afford to antagonize the one hara there with him, as much as he wanted too. He tried to take a deep breath, and remember who the fuck he was and the position they were both in.

He glared, arching an eyebrow at Cal. He may have been raised up high, but he was still Cal. Apparently all the 'respectableness' hadn't pushed out his taunting sarcasm and biting wit. It was too bad.

"Fine. Let's go." He'd started this yes, but he'd finish it elsewhere. " Unless you want to stay here and gasp pathetically in the wood some more. Maybe run off again without a plan? Get yourself killed. Or worse?"

[immanionorchid]

"You'd like that, wouldn't you." It wasn't a question. Or called for, really. But he knew it was at least part of how Seel felt about him. Maybe it was most of it. It certainly seemed that way. In Seel's place, he might have felt the same way. He'd need to be much more careful than he had been--if Seel hit bone he couldn't let him see it. And Seel would certainly try.

He hesitated a moment before he offered a hand to Seel, not really expecting him to take it. It was a peace offering--he could have left Seel there and expected him to follow, or not follow, whichever it was the place would let them do.

"Come on. I'm finished out here."

[dreamsallotted]

"No, I wouldn't." Despite everything that had happened, you were still Cal, and Seel still couldn't figure out exactly what he wanted to do with you. How could one person be so damn complicated? "Don't you remember? Gelaming don't like to kill." The implication there was clear. Razor sharp enough for you?

When Cal offered his hand, Seel stared at it for a number of moments, before taking it. Not that he really had a choice. He could throw a fit, and refuse his offer of peace, or at least a truce, and be without the only other member of his species here, or he could put on his big hara pants and act like a damn diplomat. Or at least not tie Cal up, drug him and emotionally eviscerate him.

"Good. Maybe you've finally come to your senses then. Let's go back."

[immanionorchid]

He almost lashed out again--maybe the Gelaming didn't like to kill but the Uigenna did, maybe the Gelaming weren't murderers but they were torturers--but then Seel took his hand and Cal but his tongue. He couldn't have it both ways--as much as he wanted to tear Seel apart like the har had started to do to him, he couldn't do that and keep the peace. Eye for an eye only worked to continually compound the violence. Because one of them wouldn't see the retaliation as a fair consequence.

"I didn't lose them." This time. "Let's just go before one of us does something we'll regret." It would be far too easy to put there where no one could see them (probably). He started back toward the town, at least. It wouldn't stop Seel complaining, but at least he'd have one less thing to whine about.

[dreamsallotted]

Yes, the Gelaming had tortured. Quite a lot actually. Seel himself was quite proud of his involvement in Cal's punishment. You deserved it. Ask a Gelaming however and they'd never admit it was torture. They simply peeled back the layers and exposed the truth. It was enlightenment and they were sorry others didn't see it that way, and that the subject hadn't been willing to let them help. Open up. They didn't have dungeons after all. Right? In many ways Seel was Gelaming flavored with bits of Uigenna, almost like chocolate chip pieces. No one could escape their past, especially when it ran in their veins. Not even Seel.

But now Calanthe was Gelaming too. Cream of the crop. Raised high into a position of power. Seel could see he'd changed, he just wasn't sure how much he liked it. Life just wasn't fair.

Seel sighed and nodded, dusting off the leaves and twigs that clung to his clothing and followed after him.

"Fine. Let's go."

[immanionorchid]

He was half tempted to lead him off in the opposite direction just to see what would happen, but Cal turned back toward the town instead. See how well he's behaving, Seel? He could have done so many other less savory things and no one would have been any the wiser. Something told him the woods might quickly become his favorite place. Until someone figured out they were still being watched. He wouldn't have put it beyond whatever mysterious force ran the place.

"Happy?"

[dreamsallotted]

Not really. "Yes. Quite." Don't get too comfortable Cal. Seel was going to watch you. He knew just how you cold be, and you were going to fit in here if it was the last thing he did. Part of him wanted to let you just rot, find out what happened when you didn't comply, another part of him wanted to keep you safe. Let's see which part will win, shall we?

"Move faster."

[immanionorchid]

"Impatient, are you?" Once again he was tempted to do exactly the opposite, but picked up the pace a little. He couldn't imagine that they were missing much, but the woods did seem oppressive. Not that the town was that much better, but at least there were fewer places to hide.

"Are you late for something?"

[dreamsallotted]

Ag, Cal, this was why you always caused so much trouble. You were contrary, your very nature was contrary. And Cal enjoyed it. He probably enjoyed the relative freedom the woods brought too. Seel didn't He'd rather be in the town, even knowing they were being watched. He didn't mind it. He'd always been watched before, there was nothing that Thiede hadn't known. True there hadn't been cameras everywhere, but he hadn't needed them. The result was the same. Seel was used to being watched. Cal still fought against it. He thought his life was his own to live. Seel knew better.

He'd thought the same way once, but he'd traded it. Some might say he was bought, but look at all he'd helped to achieve instead? Wasn't that a worthy exchange? He might not have appreciated certain maneuvers, but he could see the value. It was the same here.

"Yes. I'm having lunch with some of the neighbors in an hour."

[immanionorchid]

He already knew he shouldn't have been so contrary, but he hadn't quite resigned himself to being watched. He still bristled at the feelings it had brought with it, the uncomfortable knowledge that somehar's gaze was on you, always...sometimes it made his skin crawl when he thought about how he'd never really been left alone even when he thought Thiede had let him out of that godforsaken tower. Somehar had always known where he was. It wasn't a good feeling.

He almost laughed out loud, but kept it to himself. Sure, Seel was meeting with the neighbors. And they were going to tell him what direction the exit to the town was in.

"And I wasn't invited. What stories did you tell them about me?"

[dreamsallotted]

"Not at all."

Seel would have pointed to the ever present signs if they hadn't been in the woods. Unlike someone he believed in obeying the rules.Of course he was usually the one making them. This was an interesting, if not humbling experience.

"You weren't invited because I'm not here to make your connections for you. They don't know I'm connected to you. Come if you want, I don't care." He cared. But at the very least Tigron Calanthe probably knew more about how to handle a soup spoon vs the dessert spoon than the old Cal did. Thank Ag for small wonders.

Seel wasn't intending on asking them for the exit at all. If there was one, more people would be looking for it. A place like this? With surveillance? The exit would be well hidden and probably out of their reach, at least by themselves. It wasn't like they had armies anymore. No, Seel was going to network. And maybe bring them a pie from the bakery down the street.

[immanionorchid]

Oh. He was actually serious. Interesting. Cal had been joking, but apparently Seel was already at work. He doubted that anyone wouldn't know they were connected for very long--if for no other reason than he hadn't seen any other hara around--but he wasn't going to crush Seel's dream of pretending they didn't know each other. At least not yet.

"Of course not. You had somewhere to be and you chased me anyway? I wonder how much you actually want to be there." Or what that said about his feelings toward Cal in the first place. He couldn't count on them being entirely in his best interests, but maybe he could actually sleep without worrying about what he'd wake up to find. That could be a relief.

[dreamsallotted]

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?"

[immanionorchid]

"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."

[dreamsallotted]

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?"

[immanionorchid]

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?"

[dreamsallotted]

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.

[immanionorchid]

"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.

[dreamsallotted]

As far as Seel was concerned, Cal was a violent, insane criminal who had been mistakenly raised up high and unless Cal asserted himself, Seel wasn't going to give an inch. But that would have happened whether or not Cal was Cal. It was territory, and Seel wanted it. If and when Cal had enough, what would happen? Seel had a temper, especially when it came to Calanthe. However he was that he was now in a position of respect and authority and Seel really should treat him with the same respect he gives Pellaz. It wouldn't hurt to remind him of that.

He gave the other har a scathing look. Why had he saved him again? And why, even now as Cal pissed him off, did he want to pull him in his arms? But was it to kiss or beat bloody?

"I don't know Calanthe, what do you think?"

[immanionorchid]

"I don't know either, hence the question." It would have been so much easier if Seel's reactions to him weren't quite so complicated. It was Cal's own fault, too, if he thought about it. He'd never imagined Seel would end up in what had been his house after he'd lost his mind, or that it would be Seel's child he had to rescue. Seel's blood or not, he still called Terzian's blood family. Maybe that was part of the problem. Terzian was a beast, but he'd been good to him. He was better off dead now, but he'd loved Cal in his way--even if Cal hadn't quite loved him back the way he'd wanted. He might even have stayed had things not gone so dramatically sideways.

He almost told Seel to be grateful he was even asking instead of ordering but he stayed silent instead, crossing his arms and watching. If it was a staring contest, he wasn't going to give in so easily. He made sure his expression stayed neutral to match Seel's glare. He'd counter the anger with calm. Funny, though. It should have been the other way around.

[dreamsallotted]

It was almost funny how their positions had changed. Thirty years ago in Saltrock, Cal had been the angry one, and Seel the calm, neutral force. Thirty years changes a someone. But Seel hadn't given Cal anymore thought, he hadn't daydreamed about how things might have been, if Cal had stayed in Forever, how he had been the one to steal his place. He wasn't stupid, he knew there were some in Galhea who thought that, viewed him as an interloper who had stolen power away from the beloved blonde monster it originally belonged too. They were always going to be family. There was nothing that could erase that fact and Seel hated it.

He knew he should be more grateful, and more careful with Cal's new position, and the how much he owed him. Was it a life for a life? Did saving Azriel and Aleeme erase the debt Cal owed from Orien?

Seel stared back at him, haughty and not bothering to hide his disdain. Who would have ever guessed that it would be Cal staring back at him so calm and collected. "Wait up for me." He could always change his mind later. This way Seel still had the power, and he could take it away.

[immanionorchid]

And there it was. Cal knew he was giving Seel too much slack, but wasn't it better if he wore himself out a little first? Probably not. Now he was going to have to fight him to earn back every inch of​ the rope. In a way, though, Cal almost felt he deserved it. Sure, he'd endured 30 years of madness and torture to atone for his crimes, but Seel was the one piece of his past he'd never confronted. At least not directly. Not that he could remember. Maybe that was for the best. He wanted to forget most of what had happened in that tower. And if Seel was one of those things, so be it.

"Very well. Although, a warning, Seel--I can play games too. Quite well, may I add, so do be certain you actually want to participate before you begin."

[dreamsallotted]

No, giving Seel slack was never a good idea. He might hang himself with it eventually but he'd try and take you down too. He was smart, but his emotions got in the way, and always too late he'd poke a dangerous animal until he couldn't take it anymore. That was just a warning shot, Seel knew. He just wasn't sure if he cared at the moment.

"Oh, I remember you can play games quite well. Have you learned any new ones recently? Has Pell taught you how to roll over yet?" He knew it was a mistake the moment he said it. He knew he had to get back and get ready, but he couldn't stop himself from being intentionally hurtful.

"Is that the theme for tonight then? Are we playing games?"

[immanionorchid]

Cal's face lost all of its expression. Maybe that was a hint of how he used to be--wild and passionate, burning like a wildfire before it burned itself out and only the embers were left. Emotionless was more dangerous than angry. He could strike without feeling it, then.

"You're walking a dangerous road, Seel Griselming." That was a deliberate low blow, as Cal purposely avoided associating him with the Parasiel. Right now he didn't deserve that name. "From what I hear, Thiede taught you quite a bit more than 'roll over,' although that did seem to be his favorite, didn't it? Would you still jump he said so? Would you even bother to ask why or which direction? I've been tempered--not unfanged--so you'd best remember who your Tigron is and dredge some manners up with it in the process. I'm quite content to keep playing at being polite even if we haven't been friends for some time, but do not test your luck further. Some things are off limits and none of your business. Understood?"