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test drive

Test Drive Meme (April + May)

TEST DRIVE MEME: APRIL + MAY EDITION

Welcome to

bravenewworld's test drive meme! This post is designed to help players test out their characters within the setting, as well as give them an opportunity to collect samples for their future application. The prompts below are all optional, and can be used to get a feel for the game, but we encourage players to get creative and use this post however best suits their needs. Players are welcome to use either prose or brackets for their threads.

When creating a thread, it is advised that players give their prospective thread partners a bit of information in the subject line, such as the characters name and canon, or a possible typing and Enlightened ability (if this is applicable). These are not required, but will make it easier for any prospective players to thread with you. While not required, we also encourage you to take a look at the most recent AU Planning post.

THIS CYCLE'S PROMPTS
#1 A naughty Castform is following people around and causing rain wherever they walk. Talk about spring showers!

#2 The Flower Grove is well-known for its spring blossoms. Your character has gone to visit, only to discover Gloom have moved in to enjoy the pleasant fragrance! And now the pleasant fragrance...isn't.

#3 This baby Pidgey has fallen out of its nest!!! What do you do? Do you get help? It's squawking and flapping like nobody's business. Might be hard to hang onto without somebody else around to spot you...

#4 Glacier is excited for the Big Spring Thaw! They will tell this to anyone who comes to see them at Citadel, and will even lead expeditions up to the Obsidian Flats to show off the lovely warm weather......while it's still snowing.

#5 Union is still repairing itself after Kyurem's attack. Construction workers are needed at this site. Humans and Pokémon are both welcome, but the supervisor is a Machoke. Communication could get tricky.

#6 Wildcard! Come up with your own prompt!

If you have any setting questions, or want to do some reading before posting a thread, you can find the setting directory here! Happy tagging!

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[1]
[Ordinarily, she wouldn't mind the rain so much. But the fact that the rain seems to be following her is making Yui a little blue today, her Eevee trotting behind her with a little less enthusiasm than normal herself. Her sketchbook is safe enough in a satchel slung over her shoulder, but her clothes are starting to stick to her, and her bangs are drooping into her eyes. She looks... not quite miserable yet, but she seems like she'll be getting there.

She's rapidly even forgetting why she was out here, walking through the city - her stomach is rumbling slightly, indicating lunch, but she feels like there's something important she's carrying that she was supposed to be delivering. And yet, she can't check, what with the rain she doesn't want getting into her bag... a quandary. Someday she'll learn to carry an umbrella, and Eve will learn not to try and shake the water off when she's still getting rained on. Which in turn makes Yui wish she had another pair of socks. At this point, she kind of wants human contact just so she can stop thinking about how absurd this is, and how much she really wants to be dry right now.]

[2]
Uu... this smell is...

[Yui actually isn't here for the smell so much, though she does like flowers a fair bit. No, she's here to get some sketching in, and up until just after her arrival in the field, she'd had a big smile on her face. Now, however, things are different; the scent from the Gloom is intense and fairly unpleasant, leaving her with a grimace instead. It's enough to make her want to do something... perhaps not decisive, but assertive, at least. Looking to her partners, she briefly considers Eve, before letting her gaze rest on the Taillow perched nearby.]

Holly? Can you blow some of this out? I don't want to hurt the Gloom, but this is kind of extreme.

[The returning look from her companion carries a faint touch of being insulted; as if to say, you had to ask? Still, it's only for a moment, before there's a very strong sense of understanding and acceptance as she flaps off her perch, aiming a precision gust of wind into the clearing... sweeping just a touch high, avoiding actually blasting through the Gloom. The air comes clear almost immediately, and Yui takes a deep breath. One which catches in her throat as she hears the creak of a cracking branch, right in Holly's attack line, and which rapidly falls. Right onto a Gloom.

Slowly, as one, a small group turns to face Holly, and Yui and Eve by extension. Holly seems to shiver for a second, descending back to Yui's side, and Yui herself takes half a step back unconsciously, weighing her options. There's a twitch from the Gloom inadvertently hit, and that makes Yui's choice for her, as she takes a few more slow steps back, before turning on her heel and bolting, the Gloom giving chase, Yui screaming her head off all the way.]

Seems like someone's got their own personal rain cloud.

[Hibiki's wandering over to Yui, hands in pockets. His own Eevee is on his heels, but his Oddish--usually ever-present--is mysteriously missing. Hm.]

Everything alright?

[Yui would pout, if she weren't fairly sure her face were already set in a grimace. Wouldn't really work there. Instead, she tries for a slight smile that may or may not actually display at all, tone rueful but not entirely sullen.]

Not really. I feel like a puddle. I don't know why it's following me in particular, but...

[Eve snaps to attention, at her feet, but that's about all she does - all this water is putting a damper on her usual enthusiasm.]

I'd offer you my umbrella if I had one, but I didn't think I'd need it when I headed out.

[Garm--Hibiki's Eevee--whines a little in sympathy. ... It's about now that his missing Oddish bursts from the bushes, chasing after a Castform.]

Ah, Kiji--!

I didn't think I'd need mine, either. It's a beautiful day... anywhere further than fifteen feet away from me, anyway. [Tone heading slightly toward "actively sulking", but she's trying to shore herself up.

So when an Oddish, quickly identified as Kiji, reveals a Castform in the bushes, her mind whirls. Castform, related to weather, often able to mildly influence conditions nearby...] ...influence weather conditions. Pokémon can cause rainstorms... you!

[At some point, her thoughts stopped being internal, but she hasn't really noticed. Not when the source of her bad mood is right in front of her. Her eyes blaze in understanding and drive.] Eve! We need to chase it off-! [Her partner catches on quickly enough, and the two of them start a short charge toward the offender. She doesn't necessarily want to hurt it, though she will if she has to. Just... convince it to run off.]

Kiji, Garm, we'll help out too! [Kiji lets out a small battle cry and charges after the Castform again, Garm whining a "do we have to" before following.]

Any ideas?

[Water comes off Yui in wild arcs as she starts to move, glancing back at the person that is on track to have made her day.] No, but that's never stopped us before. Maybe we can make it leave... but we might have to take it down. [Her steps slow, though she keeps moving.] I'm not sure which would be better.

[Her mood is... if not improving, at least it's not getting worse anymore. A combination of being distracted and pushing the Castform enough that it can't keep creating a downpour, but she's not really thinking about it in those terms at the moment. Eve, for her part, is worried only for the thrill of the chase, looking like she's about ready to go off without being asked.]

[Hibiki lets out a thoughtful hum, tapping a finger against his chin.]

I could probably talk to it, try to get it to back off with the rain? Though if that doesn't work... [He's ready to fight if he has to, at least. Kiji too, if the way the Grass-type keeps bouncing on its feet is any indication.]

[Yui is passive enough that the idea of discussion over combat is appealing, even after the last twenty minutes have made her want to go home and call it a day before three o'clock. She nods at the suggestion, visibly still a little off-center.] I'd like to try solving this peacefully first, yes. Can I ask you to...?

[Bleh, having to ask for help with something like this galls her. But if that'll keep her dry for the rest of the afternoon, so be it.]

I'll see what I can do. [Hibiki flashes Yui a smile before he jogs over to the Castform, kneeling down to talk with the mischievous little weather 'mon.

It takes a little bit, but after a while, the rain that was so persistent in following Yui dissipates and the Castform floats off, going on its merry way. Hibiki hops up, before he turns to grin at Yui and gives a thumbs-up.]

That should take care of things for now. With how warm it is today, you'll dry off in no time, I'm sure.

[Well, that won't do at all. Yui need not worry too much, because she'll suddenly find an umbrella over her head with a slightly older girl keeping step with her. It all happens in one extremely smooth motion, and leaves a question of just where she came from... but, well. There she is! Minami is nothing if not light and quick on her feet.

Minami smiles gently in greeting.] You should be careful, Yui. You'll catch cold if you let yourself be stuck outside in this mess with no umbrella.

[Although it does strike her as peculiar that the rain is very ... isolated and spotty across the city.]

[At one point, she almost stops moving, a little more darkness coming into her emotions; this is putting her into more of a bad mood than she would prefer. She's just about to storm off toward home, when all of a sudden, the sound of the rain on her braids changes, and a sweep of sea-blue comes into her vision. That's to say nothing of the fact that the constant patter on her head has suddenly stopped, and her eyes widen even before she recognizes the source. Once she mentally connects the hair to the face, and from there to the young woman that's next to her, she seems to lose her voice for a second, only a soft sound of surprise escaping her.

The moment passes, and she smiles across to her friend, who is elegant as always despite stepping into her personal waterworld. Well, that'll keep for a second. First-] Minami... mm, I know. I wasn't expecting rain when I left. It just kind of- [-came on suddenly, is following me, doesn't make sense-] -happened. But, um, thank you. You're just what I needed!

[From under her, Eve notices the water's stopped - at least in the few feet the umbrella covers - and chooses this moment to shake again; Yui sighs half-heartedly, smiling softly. It occurs to her that she could stand to at least clear her vision, and she reaches into her bag for a small cloth to dry her glasses, mercifully still dry, as is her sketchbook.]

[Minami's smile remains through Yui's brief surprise, and she delivers a small laugh.] Well, it wouldn't do for me to leave a friend out in the rain like that, would it?

[She pauses a moment, stepping lightly to the side while trying not to shift the umbrella's coverage as Eve shakes off, attempting to avoid the flying water. She then steps back as a Squirtle behind her happily splashes in the fresh puddles.] Ah, be careful, Shelly - not everyone likes the rain quite as much as you do. [The Pokemon blinks quickly before just... more gently hopping back and forth between puddles.

That settled, she focuses back on Yui, tilting her head to one side.] Hopefully everything is alright beyond the freak weather, Yui?

[Such a simple reason. It makes her happy, and her smile grows a little more.] I suppose it wouldn't, huh? [It's soft, and she doesn't say anything more for a little bit, lost in thought. The average person wouldn't run out into the rain just to bring a friend an umbrella, not as far as she can tell. So it warms her heart to have friends like hers.

The sense of water on her legs doesn't really pull her out of her thoughts; she's already soaked, a little more water isn't going to make a difference. She does find a moment to laugh lightly at Minami's partner, at least.]

I can't really get any more wet at the moment. And yes, I'm fine beyond that. I was just... [She trails off, a confused expression crossing her face for a moment. What was she doing out here again? Without picking the thread back up, she opens her bag again, peering inside for anything out of place wordlessly.]

[She gives Yui a slightly worried comment about the state of just how soaked she's gotten in this mess, though her smile remains.] Well, we need to do something about that, get you dry. As I said, you could catch cold. We need to fix that.

[However, as Yui trails off, her eyes follow the other girl's as she begins to look back through her bag.] Yui? Is there something the matter?

[Besides the obvious, of course.]

Mm, I should probably at least change out of these clothes, though I'd have to get home first. [The chill will probably set in soon, but for now, the air is calm enough that she isn't really feeling it. Still, it's kind of an absent reply as she rummages. When Minami's gentle question comes back across, she lets herself reply softly as she searches.]

I was so worked up over my rain cloud that I forgot what I was doing out here in the first place. I'm looking to see if it was work or just being out and about. [There's a lot of stuff in here, so it's taking a second, but none of it really seems urgent enough for her to have been out today...?]

[Haruka is already on her way to the Flower Grove, her Bulbasaur, Blossom, walking at her side. With her, Haruka is carrying a basket she's brought along to take some off the spring blossoms back with her. She's always loved flowers, and she figures that a few would look nice back home.

That's when an ear-piercing shriek rings out, and Haruka's eyes widen. She and Blossom exchange a quick glance, before taking off in a run. Before long, they reach the source of the noise, and-]

Ah! Yui...! What's going on?! Why did you upset those poor Gloom?!

[Holly is not quite valiant enough to be the closest to the Gloom, on point of their escape. In point of fact, it'll probably be Holly that Haruka sees first. Yui isn't far behind, though, and the fear on her face is plainly written. Still, it's a fair question from her good friend, and she comes up aside her, breathing hard.]

I-it's not my fault, Haruka! Holly and I were trying to air out the clearing, and a tree branch snapped off! Ugh, what rotten luck-!

[The pack of Gloom is starting to close, and Yui had stopped to talk, which means she's not getting further away... she gasps, sucking in a deep breath almost immediately after. In a somewhat rare act of assertion, she reaches for Haruka's hand, looking her in the eyes.] We need to move. We can come back in a bit, but...

[Haruka's expression grew more concerned as she heard Yui's explanation, gripping the other girl's hand as Yui took it. After a moment, she nodded to her friend and looked over at the advancing group of Grass-types.]

This is just a misunderstanding, then! Blossom, can you help with this?

[The Bulbasaur nodded, and with her vines, attempted to take hold of Yui and Holly and lift them into a nearby tree, out of harms way. Then, the peaceful-minded Bulbasaur planted her feet down and faced the oncoming Gloom.]

Bulba! Bulbasaur! Bul! Basaur!

[Blossom was, of course, doing her best to express the fact that this was a misunderstanding, and that Yui meant no harm.]

[Yui nods rapidly at the assertion that it's not really her fault this time, but when Haruka takes matters into her own hands, it's only by reflex that she lets go of her friend's hand and scoops Eve up into her arms before she's lifted off her feet and into a tree. It has the benefit of getting her away from things, but it also means she can't really help. Or draw reassurance from Haruka in the process.

What she can do is set Eve down on a sturdy branch at her side, making space for Holly to land on her lap, as the whole group looks down.]

It wasn't your fault, Holly, you didn't do anything wrong... Haruka's going to get us out of this. I have faith in her, you know? [The flash of surety fades for a second, into worry.] As long as the Gloom are willing to listen.

[Haruka stood there, looking determined. Yui was, after all, counting on her! Though to be honest, there was little she could do right now besides be supportive, because Blossom was the one doing all the talking.

Speaking of which, the Bulbasaur's stern, motherly tone seemed to be getting through to the Grass-type Pokemon, until the leader of the mob asked why Yui wanted to clear out their scent. Blossom stopped, suddenly, looking nervous.]

... Blossom?

[The Bulbasaur looked back at Haruka, before letting out a sigh of her own. It was better to be honest, wasn't it?

She told them the Gloom they stunk.

Needless to say, seconds later, Blossom was desperately hoisting Haruka into the tree before she could be thrown into a looming cloud of Sleep Spore.]

[It's a long moment as Yui watches Blossom do her work... and for a fleeting second, she feels a glimmer of bright hope, as it seems like she's getting through!

And then it all went wrong, and she felt lead in her stomach as she recognized Haruka being bodily moved into the same tree branch and out of danger. Her tone is deadpan when she speaks a second later, glancing aside at her friend.]

We're really doing well for ourselves today, huh?

[The cloud is visible as it passes under them, but that won't work twice - there's nothing to carry the girls out of the tree, and they're going to have to think fast. Yui, for her own part, recognizes she still has a partner with her that can clear the air - literally - and looks down to the small bird in her lap, face grim but her voice firm.] Holly, I think this one's going to be up to you. I don't know that we can take it easy this time, though.

[Haruka's tone may be deadpan, but she herself is already beside herself with worry. Frantically, she looks over the edge of the branch, just in time to see Blossom being swallowed up by the cloud of Sleep Spore.

She looks over at Yui, the fear clearly evident on her face.]

Yui! We have to help her! Even if that means...!

[... even if that means calling on him.]

[Almost without thinking about it, as Haruka starts to fret and lean and move in ways she really shouldn't way up here, Yui reaches out and puts a hand on her friend's arm, expression very much serious again when Haruka looks to her.]

We can make this work. Whatever we have to do, we'll make this work. If you're sure you're okay with it... call your partner. Holly and I are ready when you are.

[With a small sound, Holly takes to the air again, staying close and preparing for orders. She certainly seems ready to go, at least.]

[Haruka gasps when she feels Yui grab her shoulder... and nods, sighing as she scoots back, realizing what a dangerous position she's putting herself in.]

R-right... I'll do it now...

[Haruka closed her eyes, and used her warp band to call on her only other Pokemon. A moment later, her Murkrow, Crows, was on the branch with them.

Another moment later, and he was poking Haruka's head furiously.]

A-ah! Crows! You and Holly need to help Blossom...!

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