Test Drive Meme (June + July)

[bravenewmods]

TEST DRIVE MEME: JUNE + JULY 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 Summer means it's time for a vacation! You and your Pokémon have hit the beach only to discover that not only has everyone else had the exact same idea, there's a bullying Raichu and Snubbull wandering around stepping on people's sandcastles! Will you stand up to them or let the squabble pass you by?

#2 A Noctowl has delivered you a message inviting you to enroll in Sanctuary's "Spoinkwarts School of Magecraft". How will you respond? If you say yes, you'd better head there for your supplies....it's doubtful you're able to buy cauldrons and Swellow-feather quills in Union.

#3 Perhaps it's time to beat the heat by heading to Refuge. But you've ventured there as evening is falling, and that can only mean one things: Zubats. Zubats everywhere. All at once. Suddenly. There is no escape, there is no release. There is only Zubat, and this cave.

#4 Aggron from the northern mountains have discovered Glacier music and are trying it out for themselves! Unfortunately, the only parts they've mastered are the grunting, yelling, and whipping their heads (and tails) around violently. Enjoy the concert!

#5 The Verdant Forest is full of pollen this time of year! And it looks like this Petilil that won't stop following you is allergic to....itself. It's also giving off pollen. Everywhere. Seriously, even if you don't have allergies, you're in trouble.

#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!

Comments

Pidge Gunderson | Voltron | FFO Engineer

[ramblingly]

1

[Even a trip to the beach wouldn't keep the smol nerd out of her oversized jacket and hiking boots, furiously scratching away on a pad of paper while she observed the beach goers from behind her glistening round glasses. A travel log seemed appropos for her current situation, and she wasn't planning on missing a second of it if she could.

But, that blasted Raichu and Snubbull...

Heaving an irritated sigh, Pidge smacked her book shut and tucked her pen behind an ear, before crawling up onto the nearest (and biggest) rock she could find to stare own at the bullies.]

Hey! [She called, with astonishingly loud cadence for someone so small. The little Emolga she had picked up along the way sat clung to her head, cheeks sparking with energy in sympathetic outrage, and her trusted Magnemite floated ominously nearby-- ostensibly on standby.]

How 'bout you leave the kid alone and pick on someone your own size?!

3

Oh, these zubats!

[Pidge pulled the brim of her bucket hat tighter over her head and pushed her glasses up on her face as she trudged forth, mud from the forest trail caked on her boots and splattered on her bare leg as she marched forth. There was no way that a swarm of these pests was going to keep her out of Refuge, not when she was so sure that a clue to her personal quest was in there.

Still, it was so tempting to hitch a ride through this mess.]

Hey, Rover. [She glanced up at her trusty tail of a Magnemite, and tucked her Emolga into her jacket so that the little pokemon wouldn't get lost. A sly grin spread across her face as she regarded her companion.]

You ready to get outta here?

[At the Magnemite's beep of confirmation, Pidge grabbed onto her companion's arms and they took off, top speed, through the storm.

Her excited cheer could be heard echoing through the forests and the caverns.]

[actsmagnificent]

[ ...Well, that's one way of handling this.

Somebody was headed out the same time Pidge was headed in. One long arm's raised to block bats from hitting her, but aside from that Haruka doesn't look overly bothered.

She also has to sidestep to avoid a collision, waiting until the last possible second to move. ] Is it really that bad...

[ She's moving with the current, you see. Different experience. ]

[ramblingly]

Whooaaa, there~

[The Magnemite slowed to a stop at her cue and the girl dropped off, landing easily on her feet. With her hood secured so tightly around her head that only her glasses shown in the fading light, Pidge looked up at the stately figure and grinned like a mareepish little kid.]

I dunno, but it's more fun like this!

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka adjusts the arm she's holding up so it's now keeping the Zubat swarm from whacking the other person instead of her. But she still isn't whacked with bats. Somehow, they all know better than to collide with Haruka Tenoh.

Skillz.

She seems interested in this answer, adopting the sort of expression one might find running into a fun new acquaintance in the park, not in a cave surrounded by swarming animals. ] What brings you into the caves?

[ramblingly]

[Mad skillz. Call the smol nerd jealous-- pity, she knows not the power of being a Shiny Human.]

Just exploring-- and doing some business. Nothing that special.

I think the better question is, what's a person dressed as nice as you is doing down in this mudhole?

[actsmagnificent]

I can't visit a neighboring city?

[ Haruka blinks as if this is news to her. Amusing, interesting news.

Not mad, just surprised. You learn something new every day! ]

[ramblingly]

Well, no. I'm not saying you can't, I'm just...

[She trailed, glancing the wonderfully cool and composed figure up and down.]

...Surprised you're not covered in mud. That's a neat talent.

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka shrugs - she doesn't think it's that exceptional - and then starts moving off to the side so they won't block traffic for the Zubat. ] You've brought a good partner with you today. Smart.

[ And Magnemite gets a grin. You're a good sport, supporting your Trainer by letting them live the way they want. ]

[ramblingly]

Who, Rover? Thanks!

[Pidge grinned again, and the Magnemite seemed to faintly glow in what could be interpreted as a bashful blush. Please, human. You're far too kind-- this little one is way too curious for her own good!]

We've been working together for a while. Scout too, [She added, and the little Emolga popped her head out as if on cue.

The stranger now gets a curious look, however.]

Seems like you came alone, though. How have you managed to avoid all these Zubats?

this is gonna throw me off. my last roommate had a dog named scout who knew how to open the fridge

[actsmagnificent]

[ No matter how many times you ask for her secrets, kiddo, she will never divulge them. (In part because she may not realize just how good she has it.) ] It'll finish soon.

[ ....She hopes. Where do they all come from, anyway. ]

Hah, brilliant pup!

[ramblingly]

[That wasn't even asking for secrets-- that was just starting conversation, like any polite and friendly soul.

Not that she didn't have secrets of her own.]

I hope you're right, [She said, standing on the tips of her toes and lifting a hand to shield her face from any incoming little bats.]

Don't think I've ever seen a swarm like this in my life! But, they say Refuge is a special place. What, with the Litwicks and everything.

3

[ryujin_no_ken]

[It's not a bad way to get into the caves around Refuge and, indeed, a very fast way to navigate the caverns, as long as one isn't too concerned with seeing the sights.

For awhile it works well enough until Pidge starts to get deeper into the caves and a figure suddenly drops from the shadows up above before darting forward. An amored(?) arm reaching out in an attempt to snatch both human and Pokemon from the air and stop their flight.]

3

[ramblingly]

Whoa--hey!!

[Pidge, so startled, that she released the Magnemite from her grasp, spent a moment squirming in those strong arms-- just enough to provide an opening for her Emolga to scurry out and peer at what was happening.]

Lemme go, I've got things I'm doing!

[ryujin_no_ken]

[Squirming or not, the intruder is tiny enough that holding onto her is easy enough for the cyborg who quickly ducks around a rock and peers around and down the path she'd been heading.]

Whatever your task, it very nearly came to an end before it began.

[Picking up a rock with his free hand, he lobs it up and over their hiding place and down the cavern...

... where it is quickly crushed by the jaws of a patrolling Durant soldier jutting out from a hole in the wall.]

[ramblingly]

Holy--

[She cut herself off, quickly covering her mouth with her hand and pulling the Emolga back into the depths of her hoodie. Staring down with wide eyes, she took in everything about the patrolling soldier and then squirmed around more to get into a more comfortable position.]

My intel didn't say anything about this, [she hissed under her breath, somewhat irritated that her plan had been foiled in such a way.]

1

[nomicrequired]

[He'd jumped up immediately from resting on the beach when the Raichu and Snubbull started to destroy the sandcastle that his Combusken had made. His pokémon had desperately tried to keep the two from destroying her masterpiece, to no avail. Apollo's ears perk up at the sound of someone yelling though, turning to shout back in defense.]

Hey! I-I'm not a kid! (That's the third time this month!)

[Meanwhile, the Combusken raises its clawed wings, throwing punches into the air at the troublesome duo. You want some of this?]

1

[ramblingly]

[Pidge just smirked.]

Yeah, you're totally not a kid if you're letting a comment like that get to you.

[And then, with dramatic flourish, the overdressed nerd points down at the posturing Combusken and the two bullies.]

Scout, Rover. Go join the bird and have some fun!

[nomicrequired]

This isn't like a performance at the Union Divine Theater...

[Apollo's jaw sets, deciding it might be better for his sanity to ignore the girl up on the rock. He turns his attention to what matters more to him at the moment, and that was his pokémon getting into a fight with the two bullies that had presented themselves. He steps up behind the fire-type, being careful not to get too close.]

Leave her alone. We don't want a fight.

[ramblingly]

Why bother doing anything, if you're not gonna give it your all?

[Jumping down off of the rock (and subsequently getting sand in her sneakers), she rested her hands on her hips and watched the group of pokemon have a Musical Gang style show down. The Magnemite and Emolga team were doing a pathetic job of looking threatening, with the Magnemite fixing the bullies in it's glassy stare and the Emolga making punching movements with it's tiny hands.

Pathetic display, really.]

Sheesh, what's with those guys trying to ruin someone's day, anyway? Can't they find something better to do?

[nomicrequired]

[Apollo doesn't look impressed. With anything, really. The bullies, Pidge's pokémon, it's all a little ridiculous and he'd prefer that it all stop. Especially before someone actually gets hurt.]

You should speak for yourself. (And what exactly has she been doing all day but insulting people?)

Okay- [He says to the two bullies-] if you don't leave now we'll find your trainers and let them deal with you.

[ramblingly]

[She was actually taking turns between catching up on her reading and updating her travel log-- not that presumptuous weirdos like him would understand that at all. Letting his Combusken-- an evolved pokemon-- get picked on like that was a shame, an not something she could totally condone.

She adjusted her glasses, the sunlight reflecting off of them ominously.]

Your trainers might be nicer than our friends here. Or us.

But~ It's your choice. We're not gonna force ya to do anything.

[nomicrequired]

[No rebuke comes from Apollo regarding Pidge's threat towards the Raichu and Snubbull; he hopes that they'll become disinterested in being a bother towards anyone and choose to save picking on others for another day. He stands firm behind his pokémon, who is ready to go but restrains herself from throwing the first punch.

The two bullies don't look as if they want to stand down, but-]

The police may have something to say about harassment and intimidation if you continue to create a ruckus. The law applies to the beach, too.

[ramblingly]

Yeah, what--

[Pidge cut herself off, eyes widening at this news. Discreet, she scooted closer to the stranger in the sand and lifte a hand to shield her lips so she could whisper at him.]

Wait, the police patrol out here? I thought this was Exploration Territory.

[nomicrequired]

Uhhhh, well...

[He doesn't want to admit that he's not entire sure about that or not, but it makes a good bluff. And he is supposed to be good at bluffing, though not as well as his mentor can...

He keeps his voice in whispers back to her, so as to not be overheard.]

I-It's still harassment, and why wouldn't there be some kind of law enforcement around? This seems like a pretty popular location for tourists and vacationers! It wouldn't make sense for no one to be here in case something happened! [Right?]

[ramblingly]

[Oh, this poor fool....

Pidge patted him on the shoulder-- don't worry, she's got ya covered.]

He's right-- there's totally police out here!

[A wide grin spread on her face.]

And we totally know where they're at, too. Scout, Rover-- let's get 'em and go for a walk.

[Both the electric types moved into position behind the bullies, and the Emolga started poking at them insistently. C'mon, you heard the shortstop. Let's go.]