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

[diametrically]

[ Cassian understands that he's at fault here. But he's always had a mischievous streak to him (and a stubborn one too, though the latter doesn't quite factor in here), and apparently already being in trouble that isn't life-threatening isn't enough to deter him from not being a little mischievous.

(Truthfully, the pouting only encourages it.)

In fact, it's ready on the tip of his tongue. Except he's stopped in his tracks. His surprise seems to almost ripple in the air, clearly taken aback as she begins to wipe his hand. Thankfully he recovers smoothly enough. ]

I'd argue that I opened my door normally. Couldn't you have been the one walking too fast?

[ When he has his hand back he nods at her silently before reaching for another so he can begin to actually clean her nose. The wipe hovers inches above her skin as he makes eye contact with her, looking for the go ahead. ]

[carmesi]

Blame the victim, won't you.

( despite her initial anger, the wave of embarrassment that followed, wanda finds herself tracking along with the feelings he's currently exuding. something about his energy makes her feel calm.

her own words bring a hint of a smile to her face, teasing him, but that quickly disintegrates into a quiet pained expression, eyes scrunching shut. it's not a broken nose, but it the fact that it bled means that she got a pretty hard hit to it. when wanda opens them again, he's leaning a little closer, wipe on his hand, making eye contact with her, and — she feels that the space they're in is a lot smaller than what it is.

but wanda is not one to draw back so easily, so she nods, keeping eye contact with him until he looks away. )

My— ( she pauses, not wanting to jostle him ) —name's Wanda.

[diametrically]

Is the idea of sharing something with me so bad?

[ The blame, that is. Why would he be referencing anything else? Because he definitely still remembers the punch to the chest and the kick to his stomach. Amusement curves the shape his voice, clearly aware of what the light teasing that he's subjecting her to.

C4T meanwhile has whirred its way over to the bed, content it seems to wait patiently for anymore of Cassian's air that might require purifying. It gives a chirp but he pays no mind, noting how she winces instead. It's only when she gives him confirmation to continue that he does. For someone with a bit of a resting grumpy face, his hand is steady and his touch gentle as he begins to clean the blood from her face. Apparently he's done this before. ]

Cassian. You're new here too?

[carmesi]

( apparently he has done this before, and apparently wanda has been in the receiving end, before, of such care, but that's neither something he'll be able to tell nor something she'll be willing to provide as a fun fact about herself. she glances down at c4t waiting nearby to do whatever it does, but only her eyes move, aware that she should keep still. )

Got here four days ago.

( 'new' is relative, with how fluxdrifts seem to arrive here at random, either in big groups or small ones.

it's mumbled, what she says, ignoring the bit about sharing something with him. especially when she thinks about the accidental kiss, which flusters her. )

... is it broken?

[diametrically]

I haven't been here much longer. Couple of weeks, maybe.

[ Being 'new' here really is relative. He'd been doing his best to track the arrival times, as if that would somehow glean any kind of information on how to get out, but to be honest, any information he'd pulled together was haphazard at best.

He hasn't forgotten about the kiss either, but he does seem far less bothered by it then she is (not that he's aware of that). With most of the blood cleared away he can take a better look at it not in the moonlight streaming through the window. ]

Might have to set it back into place unless you want a crooked nose. [ His eyes flit back towards her, no trace of any teasing from before. ] Do you want me to? It'll hurt.

[carmesi]

( ooc: sorry for the delay! it's been a trying week. if you'd rather wrap this up quick, or shelf this and jump into something new in the mingle, i'm good either way! )

( there isn't any real reassurance, in her eyes, knowing how long anyone's been here for. some people she's talked to have been here for decades, made lives for themselves; it's both a little fascinating and a little terrifying, because she doesn't know what direction she'll go, in this new world.

one thing is for certain, though, and it's the fact that despite their rather violent first meeting, cassian here is doing his utmost to make it up to her.

she looks away when her eyes lock onto him for a moment. )

I've hurt worse.

( ...she thinks... )

I'm ready.

[diametrically]

[ It hasn't brought any reassurance to him either, if that helps at all. Truthfully, thinking about being here long term isn't an option. If anything he's ruled it out completely. He has a home to return to and mostly by home, he means those that have known him for as long as he's been alive.

And that, more than anything, is a motivator for him to get home.

But for now he has a nose to fix. ]

3, 2 -

[ Just before he hits one his hands move, adjusting her nose back into place. There's a brief pause as he feels around for the alignment of it before pulling his hands away from her face. What she had said seconds before about hurting worse hadn't gone unnoticed, but he hadn't known what to say without it feeling like they were comparing scars. His gaze lingers on hers watching the ensuing pain ripple across her face before standing. ]

I'll get you some ice.

[carmesi]

( perhaps that's a stance they will both differ in; cassian, having a home to return to, to friends and family and acquaintances, whereas wanda has no one to return to, no one that waits for her, no one that will make her feel at home. and that's her motivator—starting from zero, because at least here she won't have reminders of that pain.

but the pain that cruises up her nose to her brows, her temples, her pain receptors going somewhat haywire for a moment as he adjusts her nose back in place sure as fuck reminds her that there are some immediate pains that feel just as awful. )

—fuck—

( the moment he draws away, stating that he's getting her some ice, wanda tumbles dramatically onto her side, on the bed, hands cupping her face as she festers on the sharp residues of pain. )

[diametrically]

[ Regardless of what does - or doesn't - await them at home, they can at least both commiserate that they're both running from something. Though, admittedly, he's been trying to change that as of late. He's trying to do his best to stay, to be present, to not run away because there is something worthwhile fighting for now.

Old habits have a tendency to die hard though.

For now, he remains, intent on getting her some ice. Or he would have had Wanda not immediately collapsed onto his bed clutching her face in pain. Worry flits across his face and he's back, kneeling by the side of the bed. C4T beeps, rolling a little closer. Whether it's out of concern (this little droid didn't seem to show any signs of that yet) or the hopeful possibility that air would need to be purified is unclear.

Cassian's hands hover over her. ]

I thought you said you were good with pain.

[ It's not really an apology. There's no apologizing for setting her nose back into place. Especially when she had agreed to it. But in the dim light his worry still reaches out of him, however quietly. ]

Do you need painkillers? I think I have some.

[carmesi]

—I've never had a broken... nose before...

( it wasn't broken, but the adjusting was not something she had been through before, so the pain is new. so much for all that bravado and cryptic talk about knowing worse pain, right?

she groans, doing her best effort to sit up as she feels him hovering over her, but ultimately just remains lying down since her hands are on her face. )

Just the ice is okay.

[diametrically]

[ Wanda talking is a good sign. Some of the tension in his shoulders dissipates as he leans back on his haunches to give her room to try and sit up. ]

Congratulations. You've joined an exclusive club.

[ When it's clear however that that won't happen at least immediately, he can't help the dry humour that weaves into his voice. ]

Don't move.

[ C4T seems to take that as directive as well and stays dutifully at the side of the bed to keep Wanda company. It doesn't take him long at all to retrieve the ice wrapped tightly into a tea towel, nor the glass of water and painkillers that are set on the bedside table on the off-chance he can coax her into taking some. In the dark, the bemusement in his voice seems louder as he regards her quietly still laid out on the bed with her hands covering her face. ]

Do you want to stay lying down? If not, I can help you up.

[carmesi]

( he tells her not to move, but then afterwards comes back saying he'll help her sit up if that's what she wants. it's—caring, warm, in a way she's found this new place to be, to her surprise. grumbling, mostly to appease her own dignity, wanda does draw her hands away from her face, but refuses to sit up.

pouting momentarily, she looks over at him as he approaches, mostly a dark figure in the surrounding darkness. )

Just give me the ice.

( muttered, but hoping that he won't just drop it on her face. she'll stay lying down, mostly to help gravity keep the ice on her nose. she does make an effort to keep her feet off the bed, because it'd be rude to put her shoes up on where this guy sleeps, so her legs are tucked over the edge of the bed.

wanda softens considerably. )

...thanks, by the way.

[diametrically]

[ Wanda's pout only serves to make the corners of his lips twitch. Depending on how good her eyesight is though, he may be momentarily saved from any further protest or stray punches by the darkness brought on by the blackout.

To his credit he doesn't drop the ice unceremoniously on her face. Rather, he hands it to her properly, the chill seeping through the tea towel already making his fingers cool to the touch. With the ice safely transferred he decides hovering (or maybe looming is a better word for it) probably won't do him any favours or put her at ease so he drops onto the side of the bed causing the mattress to sink a little with his added weight. ]

It's the least I can do. I broke your nose, remember? [ A pause as he glances at her. ] You'll probably want to take the painkillers before you leave. It'll keep the swelling down.

[carmesi]

( taking the tea towel with the ice, wanda brings it to her nose and lets the cooling ease most of her pain away. she supposes this will be quite enough for now. )

I have some.

( painkillers.

...but she probably shouldn't say no to freebies, especially since he's offering. he's sat somewhere beyond where her head lies, so she does her best to steer her eyes to glance over at him. )

I hope we don't meet like this again.

( with broken noses as a result, an accidental kiss, a punch— )

[diametrically]

You want to meet again?

[ There's no disguising the amusement in his voice this time, or the way it glints in his eyes as they make eye contact.

Since arriving he's made plenty of acquaintances, but no one that he'd consider a friend. Repeat acquaintances in this case is even rare for him. Despite understanding the value of sticking together and looking out for fellow fluxdrifters down on their own luck or having a hard time, he's still fallen back on old habits and his solitude.

Not that you can tell here. Here, he looks practically relaxed as he leans back on one of his hands so casually. ]

I didn't think you enjoyed the kiss, and I'd rather avoid being punched. [ There's another almost teasing pause before he seems to arrive at his own conclusion. ] You just want to see C4T again, don't you?

[ And as if on cue, the mentioned droid chirps. ]

If that's the case, I don't blame you.

[carmesi]

( wanda can tell that he is relaxed, open to joking and being casual with her, despite the bigger problem of the blackout, and the lesser problem of how otherwise violent and sudden their meeting was.

she makes a face at him, turning her head towards him, though it'll be hardly noticeable unless he is actually looking down at her. )

There was nothing to enjoy about it.

( —the kiss, which wasn't much of one, by the way—

huffing, wanda does finally sit up, with some effort to set herself upright, keeping the towel with the ice on her nose for a bit. the chirping droid catches her attention.

she purses her lips, the amusement fleeting through his mind, caught by her own. )

Stop thinking about it. Anyway, it seems like C4T is attached to you.

[diametrically]

[ When you put all of those things together it's really any day that ends with a 'y' for Cassian. And frankly, it's all rather tame in comparison to some of the things that he's had to deal with. And fortunately (or perhaps unfortunately if you're Wanda), he looks down just in time to see the pulled face she makes at him.

The corner of his lips tug up a little higher before he stifles it, allowing her room to sit up, still mindful not to crowd her. ]

I wasn't thinking about it. I was talking out loud.

[ Something, that if they do spend more time together, is something incredibly uncharacteristic of him. His gaze moves from her towards the not-so-tiny droid that barely crests the edge of the bed. ]

It's coded to me. I'd code it to someone else if I could.

[ But despite the clear sound of exasperation in his voice, she might get the impression that he doesn't actually mean that. Like it or not, he's grown fond of the dust-spitting droid. ]