TEST DRIVE ∞ May 2025

[thediadem]

Test Drive ∞ May 2025

The First Collision

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Jump ⇅ :: Arrival — Panorama — Fringes — Invite Request

The Diadem is an invite-only panfandom game set in a retro-futuristic world where uprooted souls find themselves deep within an eerie wasteland of roads and highways frequently assailed by cosmic storms. Three united strongholds keep the population. Its capital is Panorama, a large metropolis at the planet's center.

Soon, you realize you aren't alone. Calling themselves fluxdrifts, the "locals" have similar stories to you, either for themselves or their ancestry. You speak to an old woman who claims she hailed from another star. You meet a young man who says his great-great-grandfather knew a strange language everybody spoke "back home." As you explore, you stumble across a coin you recognize or your sister's locket. How did it get here? What does this mean? That's for you to discover.

But first, you need to find a ride.

No invites needed to play on the TDM. Everyone's welcome! Use the Invite Request thread below to request an invite from another player.

∞ Summary ∞

IC-wise, arrivals are scattered throughout the month. Events described on the TDM are also ongoing throughout the month. If you'd rather jump right into the action, you're free to begin in media res with your character having already been on the planet for several days.

Post-impact, characters will wake up in a med tent by the Scrapyard. From there, they must accept a vehicle on loan and make the 2-hour drive to the nearest city, Panorama. If they refuse the car because they don't want the loan, they'll be in debt for medical bills instead...so just take the car. It'll come in handy.

Some things to keep in mind when bringing in your character:

• Pick an injury. At minimum, they got knocked out; at most, whatever they can recover from. Medicine is decently advanced so they'll heal faster if not painlessly.
• Decide items kept. Reasonable items on their person only: photos, keys, clothes, costumes. No pets or animal companions. Wildly out-of-place tech and personal cell phones will be damaged beyond repair.
• Select a weapon. Do this only if eligible. Guidelines about weapons and powers are on the FAQ.
• Choose a vehicle. Decide whether your character gets 2-3 options or if they're stuck with something they hate. Players can pick directly from our collection or source their own images. Anything under a similar aesthetic will work. If your character needs accommodations for driving, they can have them. Ask us for details.
• Get a phone. Characters have to obtain a phone (and a SIM card) themselves. If they've got one from home, it's damaged beyond repair. Phones are cheap. It'll only take a couple of weeks to afford one. You need to know the number before you text or call anyone. Read about phones and the Forum before you hop on it.

TDM threads can be canon if characters are accepted. Top-levels made to the TDM should be open to all.

TDM Questions? Here — Game Questions? FAQ

Setting — Taken — Reserves — Applications ::: ⇅ Top

Fluxdrift

Arrival & Introduction

Date: Throughout May

You've tumbled over a cliff. You were fighting for your life. You're on the cusp of death. You slipped in the shower. Whatever the catalyst, you struggle to cling to consciousness. As darkness overtakes you, a swirling vortex warps light and shadow in a way that defies all physics. A dark wail etches into your very bones. You couldn't describe it if you tried. You can barely comprehend what it is.

Then you open your eyes.

Through the figure's mask ©, you swear the face is grinning down at you. The tent you're in smells of antiseptic, and scratchy blankets line your cot. Injuries you've sustained have been bandaged. In the corner, you spot a MedBot that's fixed you up. Depending on the extent of your injuries, the doctor on duty might give you some painkillers before you go. Thankfully, your belongings are by the exit. Sorry if anything's damaged. Your landing was pretty rough.

You follow the figure outside. They are Yom Crook, here to lend a hand to fellow fluxdrifts like yourself. Their car's parked beside them. Actually, there are lots of cars around, but Yom Crook's stands out with its painted shark mouth. They explain they found you, unconscious, in a diffusion zone and brought you here. The nearest city is a 2-hour drive northeast. Forget about walking. You'll never make it. Also, you owe the doctor a lot of money for patching you up. But you're in luck: they've got some wheels for you and if you accept the vehicle on loan, Yom Crook will cover your medical bills. That's a good deal, right? It's not the shiniest car or motorcycle, but it'll do. If fortune favors, you'll get to choose between two or three options. Plus, if you need accommodations to drive—like adjustments to your seat height or modified controls—you'll receive all that for free.

Take the vehicle. (And the loan.) Yom Crook assures you that you'll have six months before collectors come around. Any time you're ready to pay a part of it down, return here to the Scrapyard. You'll get a receipt and everything. Paying off the loan in six months isn't impossible, but it will take a lot of work. Just don't get too lax. There's a good chance you'll be juggling multiple loans as you try to get by.

You either know how to drive, or you'll have a bare-bones manual to get you started. Road rules are more a suggestion than enforced, so just hit the pedal and go. The car has some basic features. The built-in compass will help you navigate.

OPTIONAL PROMPTS: a flat tire; a body on the road (is it a trap?); a fender bender

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Panorama

Explore & Settle In

Conditions: Warm spring temperatures, light showers

After 2 hours on the road, you find civilization. The largest of the strongholds, Panorama is where the economy thrives. Massive power plants glowing red make it visible from a distance. The city is divided into three districts. For now, you can access the Pavilion and the Blocks. Don't worry about the Sanctum; they're not letting you in.

You only need to know two things about Panorama: 1) it's big, the size of a modern metropolis, and you'll need your car to get around; 2) anything goes as long as you don't pick a fight with the wrong person. Street smarts will get you far. Despite its geographical size, the population isn't huge. With roughly a million people in a city designed for over twice that number, Panorama is far from deserted, but nor is it overcrowded. It's a good thing. Resources are limited as it is.

The Pavilion: Free Samples

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Like any large city, Panorama features a couple of supermarkets. The stock's not as consistent as a proper supermarket. On occasion, shelves can remain cleaned out for a week or two. Regardless, the long tradition of free samples remains. If you're not already shopping, you'll notice the crowded parking lot and clusters of lines inside.

Try samples, push through the crowds as you shop, or give yourself a five-finger discount. If you're cautious, you can pocket a few small items without consequences. The Pavillion doesn't have the infrastructure for surveillance; unless someone sees you, you won't be caught. Steal from the store or pilfer someone's wallet. Maybe you even make a new friend if you bump into another fluxdrift. Or, start a fight with somebody who cut you off in the cheese line. Don't make too much of a ruckus, or you'll be thrown out.

As you look around, you'll see posters advertising temporary positions for the cash register or graveyard shifts in the warehouse. Seems they might've lost several employees recently (how'd that happen?), which is good for you! It's just a 6-week position, but it'll get you on your feet. The city has temporary positions like this all over. Permanent ones are harder to come by when you're new.

Samples include: steamed cabbage dumplings, synthetic cherry juice, cheddar cheese, and chocolate-covered alien eggs (it's crunchy and weirdly tasty). They're served in the usual throwaway paper cups with little toothpicks.

The Blocks: Power Outage

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Power's finicky in Panorama, especially in the Blocks. Saint Margery's Hospital, located in the same area, has priority for power so the first to go are the motels. Maybe you've been in your room for a couple of weeks, maybe you just got here—and by the way, every motel desk is happy to put the fee on your tab if you don't have the money upfront—but all the motels on the east side are in a blackout, leaving only the west side motels up and running.

What do you do? You have three choices:

• Risk leaving your room and head to the other side where there's power. Knock on some doors and negotiate with another to share the room. They might shut the door in your face, ask for a favor in return, or be nice enough to help you with no strings attached. There's no guarantee your unattended room will be untouched, though, and you'll be on the hook for any damages an intruder causes.
• Sit in the dark and deal. It's not the worst idea, but the TV's down, the vending machines are powered down, and with the entire place plunged into darkness, you risk getting robbed. If you struggle with defending yourself, you might want to find some trustworthy company. You can also sneak out of there and let them take your leftover pizza. It's not like you've got a ton of valuables, right? Plus, clobbering someone in the face with a frying pan sounds great until you realize you've gotta do something with the body. And what if this person's got a friend waiting?
• Get in your car and drive (or grab a friend for a road trip). If you scroll the Forum, you might notice reports on diffusion zones southward. Besides, these motels are hardly your forever home. The city can only provide so much. Why not go for a ride and see what you can find out there?

OPTIONAL PROMPTS: clean up on aisle 3 (what is that goo?); a knock at your door but no one's there; you hear screaming or a commotion down the hall

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The Fringes

Quad 3: Lockdown

Conditions: Stormy, with flooding roads

Felix Bjurstrom
> Date: 125-05-17
> Time: 02:15:57

> Emergency road lights have been reported in Quadrant 3! Please, can someone go see what's there? When last we chasers investigated emergency lights, a whole truck filled with sour candy had tipped over. Our stores were stocked for weeks! Oh, be careful - reception looks bad in that zone.

Whether you end up here on your own or you were following a tip on the Forum, the outcome is the same: you come to a stop in front of a 2-story office building that's flooded several inches deep. Emergency lights from a roadblock flicker through the stormy night. Stepping out of your car, you're soaked within seconds. When you check your phone, you don't have any bars. No calls in or out.

Through the open windows, a computer awakens and displays a cheerful smile. The lights inside switch on.

Pick your scenario role below. Your thread partner doesn't need to take the opposite role! They can join you in the same scenario (i.e. trapped together). Players are also free to create a generic NPC for the other side to facilitate the thread.

After characters escape, they'll find one bottle of antibiotics in their pocket or car, whether they remember taking it or not.

A: Sealed In
As you peer through the windows, you see crates of medicine floating around. Antibiotics in the diadem are valuable. Hospitals and doctors are always buying. You can keep it for yourself or make a quick buck. Or maybe you're compelled to help somebody back in the city who's in need. Whatever the reason, you decide to take the risk and step inside.

Water splashes around your ankles. The lock buzzes behind you. If you try to break the windows, you discover they're unnaturally resistant to shattering. With the whole place locked tight, the water begins to churn. Then the computer lights up again.

Warning, it flashes in large, bold text. Quarantine in progress. Release code required for exit.

• To find the code, you'll have to search. Duck under the water, go through sopping envelopes and sticky notes or pick the locks on the filing cabinets and desk drawers. You can also try hacking the computers. Use your computer knowledge or fall back on the age-old trick of seeing who wrote down their password.
• The files, notepads, and emails start innocuous, but as you look through them, disturbing phrases jump out at you—a dark thought you've had or a cruel taunt from someone in your past. The longer you're fixed on the terrible words, the higher the water begins to rise. Only another can break you out of your trance.
• With the rising water comes fear. And the more you're afraid, the more the water also rises. You begin to see faces in the water, bobbing like balloon heads. Do you recognize them? If you move to take a closer look, they will sink back beneath the surface as if never there.
• If you manage to swallow your panic, you can eventually find a triple-laminated binder with the release code and instructions. Bad news: you need someone on the outside to punch in the 6 strange symbols in order. The instructions explain that the code panel is located at the back of the building.

Let's hope a friendly face comes along.

B: Set Free
As you peer through the windows, you see not just the crates of medicine but someone trapped inside. They look like they might be in trouble, and from your vantage point, you notice that the water is bubbling strangely. It's definitely not normal rainwater. As you watch, the water rises unnaturally, stopping and starting. It's as if the water level is responding to an external stimulus.

• The glass is soundproof. You can't hear what the person inside is saying, so you'll have to communicate with each other another way. Try charades, typing on your phone, or whatever you think of. Eventually, you determine that they're stuck and that you need to enter some sort of code onto a pad located—according to your trapped partner—at the back of the building.
• Around the back, shadows swallow your surroundings. The panel must be pried open, but a slippery substance makes it hard to get a good grip. Each time the substance touches you, you grow uneasy. You swear you see eyes watching you, though when you turn around, nothing's there.
• You can't seem to keep the instructions in your mind. And those symbols...they burn into your retinas. Through them, you glimpse an incomprehensibly massive figure unfurling in the darkness, pulsing as if in a deep sleep. When you snap back to reality, you realize you've injured yourself, slicing your hand on a sharp edge or a bruise you can't remember getting.
• Once you manage to release the doors, the water inside the office drains upward into the sky as though sucked out by a giant hose. The darkness spreads. Get out of there fast before the shadows drag you or your partner into the void.

Of course, you don't have to help anyone. You can leave the individual there, make a deal, or outright extort them. But remember, you're not the only person on these roads. You might want to play your cards carefully, even if altruism isn't your first instinct.

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Comments

[littlemushroom]

If Lu Feng was ever possessed by the unnatural thought that his presence wasn't enjoyed, all he had to do was watch the mushroom a bit closer for a short while. Soon enough he'd get to catch An Zhe's gaze wandering over to the man no matter what part of the aisle he was loitering around, eyes curving gently. It was the same thing every so often, even if Lu Feng was not looking. Hello again.

Looking at a handsome guy was good for morale.

Having some other guy leaning on his sample table was not good for morale. An Zhe frowned slightly at the eggs that tipped over as his cart jostled. Hey.

"So when's your day job over, bunny?"

An Zhe carefully put the eggs back into their cups.

[lufeng]

Well, Lu Feng couldn't say that he was thrilled about his loitering coming in handy, for his silly role of bodyguard to actually be called for, but gosh. Flirting with someone at work? How bold, how stupid.

How could you, other guy? Disrupting this hard-working little mushroom's shift by jostling his sample table around. The clatter of cups was followed by Lu Feng moving fluidly up behind the unfortunate person bringing the morale down, almost as though he were simply getting in line for another sample. No, though, what he actually wanted was to get a

good look

at the one who would so brazenly try and hit on An Zhe in front of him.

[littlemushroom]

What a silly person that was, to be doing such a thing without any regard to the people loitering around them. Even sillier still was that they were doubling down on the efforts, not even paying attention to the looming shadow in line behind them.

"You know you'll say yes sometime," he was going on, leaning in ever further towards An Zhe who in turn leaned slightly farther away with his mouth in a straight line. "Might as well make it tonight, bunny."

An Zhe's line-faced expression stayed the same as he pushed an egg towards the stranger. "Here is an egg, sir. Have... a day."

[lufeng]

What a foolish man, to have hassled An Zhe more than just the once, it sounded like. This was not an 'open fire' sort of hassling, at least, but Lu Feng had heard enough. Time to put a stop to this.

He reached past the stranger, hand catching the back of An Zhe's before he could pull it away from that sample cup. "An Zhe," he said, voice soft in spite of the icy reception he was giving the back of the other fellow's head just moments ago. He leaned in a little over the person between them, as though he were extremely unconcerned about his mere presence, before continuing, "Is there anything you want me to find for us tonight?"

[littlemushroom]

An Zhe's attention was immediately captivated by that familiar touch, much to the interloper's dismay. "Hey!" They barked, assuming (incorrectly) that someone else was the interloper here. "Get in line--" And there he was, the wall of Lu Feng.

The sputtering of that fellow went unacknowledged. "Whatever you think looks good," An Zhe replied appreciatively. "You know what I like." Way more than anyone else present did, at least. "We can have it tomorrow too."

[lufeng]

Well, the sputtering would be acknowledged, if only very briefly, by a pointed look from Lu Feng. Look, guy, he was so graciously giving you an opportunity to walk away with your tail between your legs if you wanted, or you could stay boxed in between the sample table and the wall of a man at your back and see where that led. Up to you.

His attention flicked back to An Zhe then. "Of course," he answered, running his thumb slowly over the back of the mushroom's hand. An intimate gesture, something that should really drive home how out of his depth this interloper was. "I'll see what I can find for us to share."

[littlemushroom]

There was simply no room for you here at the table, mr. guy. This domestic moment was going to continue no matter how many sour lemons your face was currently consuming. "I appreciate you," An Zhe told him softly. For the offer and for stepping in. There were so many ways that Lu Feng was helpful.

Briefly, An Zhe glanced back at the guy who had been shooting his shot. "Oh. I have plans for the foreseeable future."

The man's expression soured even more, and An Zhe simply looked at him. There was nothing else to be said here. After a few more moments of silence, it seemed to dawn on him that this was the case. An Zhe wasn't sure how it happened, but the puckering seemed to intensify and he finally made a move to angrily slither past Lu Feng.

[lufeng]

Goodbye, sour sir. As An Zhe had put it, have a day. Perhaps your next conquest would be more fruitful.

Mercifully, Lu Feng wouldn't let his attention linger after his back for long. The hand in his own was far more important, and the careful attention he'd been offering it hadn't only been for show.

"Does that happen often?"

[littlemushroom]

"Sometimes."

Had it been an earlier day, seeing that sour face slink off would have whisked away the mushroom's tension. Today, however, he was as relaxed now as he had been before. Nothing could have happened to him under Lu Feng's watchful gaze.

An Zhe quietly pushed a few of the other cups towards the man's hand. A treat, for you.

"They usually go away eventually, when they're bored."

[lufeng]

Oh? Surely your boss would not want you foisting off all of your samples on to one person. Lu Feng would accept one (1) extra egg as payment for his services, thank you very much.

Who could blame anyone for being drawn to such a cute mushroom? Lu Feng was glad to hear that none of those anyones had made any sort of move beyond bugging him, but man. The audacity of some people to do even that much. It's like they had no idea what was waiting for them when Lu Feng found his way back to An Zhe's side.

"Hmm." He raised his hand to place a gentle pat on An Zhe's cheek, a careful gesture that fell just short of the forbidding 'flirting at work', before scooping up that sample cup. "I'll be here if any more of them show up."

[littlemushroom]

How gracious of you, Lu Feng. An Zhe was slightly disappointed to see only one egg go towards Lu Feng's reward, but that was alright. It really probably wasn't good for the quotas to go giving all the samples to him, his hero or not.

The little pat earned him an equally little smile, but the affection was warm all the same. "Thank you," An Zhe said softly. "You don't have to, but... it is nice to know you are here."

[lufeng]

An Zhe would just have to show his appreciation in some other way later, if that's what he wanted. Surely he could figure something out eventually.

Of course, he didn't want anyone else trying to scoop up this mushroom, of course he had to be here to help protect him, until An Zhe could absorb a reputation as someone not to be hassled. But more than that... he simply felt soothed, being able to be near this person who was so dear to him. Even if it ate in to his time to rest before his evening warehouse shift, that was fine.

"I like being here." With... An Zhe, that is. Not. like. specifically extraplanetary costco. "I like knowing you're safe."

[littlemushroom]

There were a few things he could figure out, probably.

The simplest being making sure there was something tasty ready when Lu Feng returned from work, and that their bed was extra cozy for him. Don't think he didn't know what being here with him meant. An Zhe would just have to make sure Lu Feng got plenty of rest afterwards. He was working so hard.

"Mmm. I like being safe." He moved to discreetly hold on to a bit of Lu Feng's coat. Being safe himself wasn't the only reason it was nice to see him there. There were no secret troubles to be encountering if he was loitering right here, after all. " ...and I like knowing you're safe, too."

[lufeng]

So cute... If An Zhe could steal a nip of Lu Feng's blood, he'd certainly be bowled over with the intensity of the affection wrapping itself around all of Lu Feng's thoughts and settling its way in to the curve of his mouth.

Of course, any bystanders would have a much tougher time seeing the subtleties in his expression for anything particularly intense. Restrained and understated as always, Lu Feng brought his hand to gently cup An Zhe's. His answer to that thoughtful concern was a, "Thank you," light and soft as fresh snowfall. "I'll make sure to keep you safe, and I'll make sure you don't have to worry too much about me."

[littlemushroom]

It was for the best. No one needed to see a mushroom melt all over the floor right now.

The subtleties that An Zhe could recognize were doing a pretty good job at pushing him towards that fate anyway. All that gentleness was just for him, after all. How could it not make a warm home right there inside of him, as safe as his hand in his.

"Good," An Zhe said, soft but firm. Don't be too brash, Colonel. "... If you really were going to look for dinner, you don't need to find anything special. You should get some rest when you can."

[lufeng]

Was finding a nice meal for the two of them truly such an arduous task? Lu Feng's nice, soft smile gained a subtle sort of sharp edge to it.

"How silly." Here was a little squeeze of his hand, he's only playing around. "I'll find us something nice, it won't be so difficult."

[littlemushroom]

An Zhe pouted slightly over that edge. He’d just meant that Lu Feng didn’t need to put in that much effort just for him. The color creeping up his ears meant nothing at all.

“I just meant you shouldn’t spend too much time…” he mumbled.

[lufeng]

Awful little smirk, marring that handsome face and growing even sharper at that bloom of color. Horrible.

"I'll spend as much time as I need to find something good," he said, firmly. He's put his mind to this, now! But he was also certain that it wouldn't be such a big ask, no reason to worry.

[littlemushroom]

How hateful of him. What a terrible man.

"Now who's silly," An Zhe continued to mumble despite the squeeze he was returning. "It's okay if it's not good."

[lufeng]

Was it okay. Was it really. Lu Feng let his focus linger just a little too long as he considered that before he answered, "I'll see if I can get some mushroom soup."

Sorry your (??)boyfriend(??) sucks.

[littlemushroom]

How hateful of him. What a terrible man.

An Zhe stared at him. And then he stared at him a little more. "Why are you like this."

[lufeng]

That sort of question is just going to fuel that terrible little self-satisfied expression on his face. You should know better, An Zhe.

He couldn't stop himself any longer, though, from the forbidden workplace affection. Lu Feng leaned the rest of the way in to press a kiss to An Zhe's forehead in lieu of an actual answer. The terrible man he was.

"I'll be nearby," he assured him, before pulling back and popping that chocolatey egg in his mouth.

[littlemushroom]

He should, and yet he remained the fool. Easily swindled by this bastard's moments of charm.

Just like right now! When the bastard gave him such a sweet little kiss! The soft gesture left An Zhe feeling warm, and he briefly wished that his shift was already over so this terrible man could sweep him up in a hug.

"Alright," he murmured in reply, trying not to sound too disappointed. There was no use sounding annoyed, since he knew Lu Feng wouldn't actually force the mushroom to eat mushrooms. P... robably. He squinted slightly at that pleased face full of chocolate egg, but softened quickly.

"Thank you."