There was an accident. The details are hazy and obscure, but it's still the first thing you remember. Maybe a car wreck — metal and broken glass everywhere, and the sirens and the
screaming. Maybe your bike hit a rock and you careened uncontrollably off a mountain path. Maybe something less mundane, even impossible seems to have happened to you. You can't quite make out the details, not who was at fault or why. Try as you might, the chaos is all you can truly remember.
It's also the
last thing you remember from before waking up.
When you open your eyes, the accident is gone. Instead, you're in a hospital bed, and the nursing staff greet you with cheerful smiles.
Don't worry, they tell you. You'll make a full recovery here. Where is here? Why, home in Wayward Pines, of course!
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.)
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 | FOURTH OF JULY |
If there's one thing to be said for Wayward Pines it's the town's resilience and staunch refusal to give up on the image of a picturesque little town, and July 4th this year has the community putting it's best foot forward in this regard with its annual 4th of July picnic and fireworks spectacular.
To hear anyone (Linda) familiar with the town talk (complain), this year is a much more sedate affair than any of the years prior, but in a lot of ways today is a very good opportunity for people to reconnect with their neighbors; chat quietly at a table, share a recipe, play some catch, or argue with Jerry over the proper way too cook a burger. Jerry never listens, of course, but thankfully the whole event is a pot luck so there are plenty of other, far more edible options for those with a more... discerning palate.
The day passes pleasantly, and the night? The night brings the fireworks. A beautiful cascade of bright colors and lights in the sky. Sparklers are handed out like party favors while everyone is strongly encouraged to play safe by a long-suffering and weary looking sheriff. After all, the town has had quite enough excitement by this point, don't you think?
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), 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!
( a few notes )
Welcome to our fifth 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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bumfuckidaho2017-06-17 08:38 am
TEST DRIVE MEME
finn | star wars
[finn wakes up in the hospital, and that part feels right, but there is something about the atmosphere that feels off. unfamiliar. his back is sore, and that feels right too, but he has no idea where he is at all. there is an instinct to hide, so finn sneaks out in his hospital gown, and the back of it slides a little off his back as he escapes the hospital itself and hurries through the town, giving a glimpse of a long burn scar down his back. he wishes he could remember what it was from, but he's more concerned about finding actual pants.]
Hey, you! Where can I find some clothes?
( two )
[the scream sends a chill up his spine. any uncertainty about the town gets overrun by the need to help, and finn finds himself bursting into a run towards the sound. anyone he asks says it's best to ignore it, but he can't.]
[it doesn't stop him from running up to people almost out of breath, anyone he sees on the street.] Did you hear that? Please tell me you heard that, and don't tell me that's normal!
( three )
[there is so much food and finn doesn't know what to do with it. it has flavor and smells and his stomach rumbles because he takes too long shuffling between everything and trying to decide what he wants. he's not used to having options, so he'll gesture at people, with a sort of faux casualness because he doesn't want anyone to know he has no idea what most of it is.] You got a favorite?
[by the time the fireworks roll around, he's stuffed his face, but he's frowning. he feels like he's seen fireworks before, he knows he has here at the pines, but it makes him uncomfortable. like the fancy explosions are meant for a celebration of something more menacing and bloody. catch him sitting unhappy on a bench, fidgeting with his fighter pilot jacket while the fireworks keep going on over head and he studiously pretends they're not. someone hands him a sparkler, but he wrinkles his nose, and immediately passes it off to the next person he sees.] You can have it.
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Finn is here, though. Finn is here, Finn is awake, he's okay.
That's the thought that tips the scales: Finn is okay.
Poe shoves the sparkler into the hands of the nearest non-Finn entity and takes the two steps that bring him in hug range. Which he does. He hugs Finn fiercely, without stopping to think that maybe his friend doesn't, y'know, remember him. ]
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[poe dameron is here. he remembers this man and is suddenly grateful he's not alone anymore.]
Poe? [there's like 80 other questions in it because he just has so many and has no idea where to even BEGIN.]
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[ BB-8 has by now zeroed in on the commotion, rolling over and chirping excitedly at Finn in unison with Poe. It's half because Finn exists, and half because Poe is so happy about it. ]
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[finn's interrupted when he hears the chirping and immediately looks over, expression brightening as he leans down to clap the droid on the larger orb part of it.] BB8! Wow, they got you too, huh?
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Instead he just claps Finn on the shoulder, squeezing lightly. ] It'll start coming back to you. I can tell you whatever you want to know.
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[his attention shifts back to poe at the shoulder clap.] How long does the 'start coming back to me' take? Honestly, I don't even know where to begin. Should I know what we're supposed to be celebrating? [start light! clearly.]
1
[ becky's eyes widen but she shakes it off like a t.swift song, giving her head a little shake, too. get your head back in the game, clearidge. ]
You're, uh, kind of slipping there, let me-- [ she's just going to step up to him and curl her arms around his neck to tie the gown in a neat little knot because becky doesn't believe in personal space. now he's not in danger of actually being nude. she's here for you. ] There.
[ she steps back, flashes him a bright, friendly smile. ] Now you won't get arrested for indecent exposure!
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[but she doesn't seem to care, reaching into his personal space, if he had any real sense of it himself. he's not quite used to being out of armor and what that means for interacting with other people sans weaponry.]
[he blinks at her, then reaches behind him to feel at the tie. he must have forgot.] Thanks. Guess I was in a rush. [a beat.] Could I really get arrested for that here?
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[ she shrugs a little, gesturing behind her. ] All your stuff will be at the Sheriff's station because they have a terrible policy about personal belongings, it's so dumb.
[ she starts walking, assuming the guy will follow her. ] It's kind of stupid that you don't keep your clothes with you? It's really not sanitary to be walking barefoot after an accident so it's a huge oversight on their part. I'm going to complain. I mean, I did complain, but I'm going to write a letter, like by hand.
[ because it's srs that way. also they don't have yelp. fuckers. ]
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[it's better than saying what's florida, because florida is clearly a place! probably a planet!]
[there's a moment of hesitation when she starts walking, but it's not like he has any better ideas, so finn half jogs to catch up then keeps pace with her. she is very chatty. at him. it's nice?? it feels like he doesn't get to talk to people a lot.] I didn't exactly - check out. Could that have anything to do with it, or does everyone need to go for a walk before they find their clothes?
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[ oh, there he is again. becky has a quick, exuberant stride to match the rest of her bubbly personality, but she does slow a little once he catches up. so he won't have to catch up. ] I waited and I still had to walk. [ her eyes cut over to him, eyebrows knitting together. ] Do you need medical attention? I know first aid.
[ a beat. ] I know mouth to mouth.
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[he looks over when she does, not meeting her gaze so much as following old instincts and awareness of his surroundings. which is when people look at him, apparently. he raises an eyebrow at her.] Pretty sure I'm breathing all right on that front. Think I'm just stiff from - however long I was in there, whatever reason it was.
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2
[not that there was any sneaking, really, Newt's just...well, he can get singularly focused.]
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You're okay, right? Were you going to the woods?
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[yep he sure did shout that at a passing couple, who flinch and scuttle away as quickly as possible. Newt's mouth twists further into a scowl as he watches them go with disgust] Ugh, can you believe these people? "Nothing's happening"--yeah, and building a wall is going to be enough to keep out a 3400 ton monster. Like I haven't heard this all before.
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Everyone I've tried to get to help so far doesn't seem to care. It doesn't make any sense. [unless it's empire related.] You - wait, you think it's some kind of monster out there?
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3
Not impressed? I can certainly do better.
[ with a quirked brow, she sends a thread of magic through her fingertips to start the sparkler, then throws it into the air as it bursts into an eruption larger and more bright than strictly natural. it's... more than a little show-offy, though the smile she gives is cheerful enough. ]
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[he's drawn to the explosion in spite of himself, even if he's still watching with crinkled eyebrows.] How did you do that? I didn't think they were designed for more than a quick little spark.
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[ with her clearly now-empty hands, she makes a short gesture, a flick of her wrist, and sends a little shower of colored sparks dancing through the air in front of them, fizzling out harmlessly on the ground. her grin just gets wider. the sparklers aren't the only part of the evening that have been boring, so it's nice to just talk to someone. ]
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[finn watches the sparks fly from her hand, fascinated, before turning back to her brightly.] How do you even learn that sort of thing?
3.
Only it's sort of bittersweet, too. Nanako is still 'lost', after all. She's been asking people if they've seen her father or brother, and no one's really been giving her a straight answer. She's a bit scared, worried, and...well, what's going to happen to her? She doesn't know where she is, where to go, or what to do. She is just a child after all! And even though everyone seems so happy, she's watching the fireworks with no excitement, and hangs her head and kicks her feet a few inches above the grass on a picnic table. Her belly is full, but her heart seems empty.]
Huh? [Looking up, Nanko startles at the glittering stick being offered to her.] Oh! Um...y-you don't want it? I can really have it?
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[he gives her half a smile instead of doing anymore of his own sulking.]
Yeah, it's all yours. You know how to use one? I'm not so great with it.
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Taking the sparkler carefully, in case he changes his mind, Nanako smiles a tiny smile right back. He's still considered a 'stranger', but seems kind enough. And...she was told to be nice to the people she meets! That's very important!!]
Yeah!! You hold it, like a wand! And...and you can make patterns in the air with it - like this, see? [Demonstrating, Nanako slides off the seat of the picnic table and a foot or so away, waving the sparkler through the air so the bright light seems to spell out a pattern: N A N A K O. Her name.] It's pretty, right?