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

[empireofmymind]

I'm happy to make suggestions if you'd like them. [ The very picture of helpfulness. This is the first step. Actually getting her to say, flat out, that she wants his assistance. He'll have her right where he wants her once he can manage that.

Once, naturally. Never "if". There is never any "if" about anything he does. ]

[wovensecrets]

... Is that so. Hmmm.

[She had been hoping to trick him into revealing suggestions without her having to say the words.

Still, if this was the way he intended to behave, it would be a resource worth exploiting. ... Or disregarding, at her leisure. Perhaps he was right where she wanted him after all. Which required her being less terse, if this was going to work. A tough feat, from her hunger adding to her irritation, but-]

A nice boy like you must have a lot of experience. What have you tried so far?

[That was painful to say, let alone to smile at, but surely, there would be benefits down the line.]

[empireofmymind]

[ ...Not quite what he'd wanted, but not completely out of the workable range, either. Ken steps further into the restaurant, raising a hand. ] Excuse me! Could we get a special order, please?

[ She's tricky. Better to go on the initiative. She's yielded enough control to him for him to be able to explain away taking the reins like this without undue suspicion falling on him. Now to make sure all eyes are on them.

She'd tried to humiliate him, make him doubt himself. He'll show her what humiliation looks like. ]

[wovensecrets]

-- What? Wait a minute...

[But Ken had already made his move. She quickly steps after him, that tiny attempt at a smile retreating to a more neutral expression when the boy's back had turned, trying to puzzle out his actions. She could tell that he was trying to out-maneuver her somehow, for all his pretense at helpfulness and innocence. Taking the initiative in such a way... she did not like that.

The server whose attention he had grabbed, however, is all smiles, greeting them with a nod. "For you and your older sister? Certainly, what would you like?"]

[empireofmymind]

[ Ken had been considering ordering children's food in a loud voice for her and something more sophisticated for himself, to heighten the difference between the two of them. But when she's mistaken for his sister, the gloves come off.

He gives this server (who one day shall bow at the mere mention of his name, as is proper, and shall serve as a useful tool in his present scheme - otherwise he would avoid mingling with such insects) his very best boyish smile and orders the spiciest food on the menu for the stranger, with an assortment of bizarre spices added. And the most sophisticated, again, for himself. Specifying which is for whom.

Then he steps aside. ] She's paying, of course.

[wovensecrets]

[Her eyebrows shoot up right into her bangs at the assumption, let alone at the sound of the order. She doesn't recognize the spices and the boy's order sounded unusually extravagant, if unfamiliar as well.

The server, on the other hand, didn't seem to notice anything too amiss, cheerfully jotting down the order, and repeating it back to confirm.

"Thank you, young man. Here's your total, Miss. Would you like to find a table here--"]

-- No, we'll be taking it with us.

[She had to take some control of the situation back to her hands. She didn't like the sound of that price either, but affording it at least, wasn't an issue, evidenced by that small pink handbag she was carrying with her.]

[empireofmymind]

They have plenty of seats. [ This is a helpful observation. Just like that had been a helpful order.

If he can get everyone in here watching her expectantly, maybe he can keep her from robbing him of his stage. He is the genius here. Things will go his way. ]

[wovensecrets]

[This boy... was trying her patience.

The server was looking at her expectantly now, waiting to see the final answer.]

... Don't get too pushy, little brother. [She tilts her head to look back at the server.] Very well, we'll stay.

[And she'll find a secluded booth, whether he likes it or not.]

[empireofmymind]

Excuse me. [ See, server? Helpful "little brother". Thoughtful "little brother". Now pay him no more heed.

Ken doesn't even object to her choice of seat, remaining standing on the pretense that he's looking out for the food. There'll be nowhere to hide once she samples what he's prepared for her. And her reaction there should tell him many things.

In addition to being extremely satisfying. ]

[wovensecrets]

[The server gave a polite bow, heading back to the kitchen to put in the order. It says something about their professionalism at how they don't remark about how strange it is until they're well out of hearing range...

Arachne meanwhile, sat down, frowning to herself. She could feel one of her headaches building. She had all but allowed that boy to back her into a corner. And for what? Food? If it helped to build his confidence into thinking that she didn't really know who he was, so be it, but at what cost? All the more reason to save her trump card for another day. "Little brother" indeed.

Another server comes out and asks for their choice of drinks. She chose water, it was plain and seemed safest.

The fact that Ken still hadn't taken a seat was irritating in it's own way. Finally, she commented on it, after the drink order.]

You seem eager. They'll know where to find us, you know.

[empireofmymind]

I feel bad taking a seat uninvited. [ But he sits, now that this is no longer the case. And smiles.

Ugh, he hates the kind of people he's pretending to be right now. The ones who can't mind their own business. Fortunately his imminent victory dampers his sense of disgust down to a faint queasiness in his skin. ] Am I imposing?

[wovensecrets]

I think you already know the answer to that, Little Brother.

[The imposition of purposely trying to take away her choices. It's that smile that nails in the irritation. Still, even for her words, she manages a neutral tone, with her own tiniest of smiles in return.]

You knew what you were doing the moment you approached me, and now you're getting a free meal in the bargain.

[empireofmymind]

I suppose. [ Neutrality: a surprisingly effective weapon. Most people don't know how to handle being confronted with it. It knocks them off their game, and then they're at a disadvantage moving forward.

It's also polite, so no one can claim he's the problem here. Now, how good is the service at this place? ]

[wovensecrets]

Clever boy.

[She could tell he had the look of someone waiting innocently, but waiting for a payoff of some kind. What was he planning? That she couldn't figure out, but she kept up her own, neutral expression, even with the "complement".

Given it was a special order, they'd likely have about twenty minutes to wait. Not too long, all things considered, since it wasn't a particularly busy time of day.]

[empireofmymind]

[ He is, isn't he? He's glad you've acknowledged this.

He also seems quite content to just sit in silence as they wait. Yes, that gives her the opportunity to potentially pick a conversational subject, but...isn't that better insight to how whatever passes for her brain functions?

Plus sitting in silence tends to make people uneasy. But Ken doesn't mind it. He's alone even when he's with others, after all. No one can comprehend his greatness. ]

[wovensecrets]

[She personally didn't mind the silence. Her mind was busy enough with thoughts, and in the rare times she didn't have a headache, it was ... useful for observation. Always better to let someone else make the first move. With this child it was an irritant at best.

It's a server who makes the first move with bringing their beverages, several long minutes into their mutual silence.

"We also have flavored moo-moo milkshakes here, would you like to add any for your order?"

She was surprised by the question, but at least the concept of it was more familiar to her.]

Oh... do you have any in the Magost blend? [Her gaze flickers back toward the boy, not that it was easy to tell with those shades.] Did you want this as well?

[empireofmymind]

Eh?

[ Unforgivable. A moment of weakness. Ken puts the smile back on in a hurry. ] You've done enough for me already...

[ He doesn't like dessert. It reminds him of that woman waiting for him at home who always tries to stuff him full of food. As if that means anything. As if that can make up for her deficiencies. ]

[wovensecrets]

How refreshingly modest of you. [If a little strange, given his previous behavior. She turns back to the server once her query is responded to.]

That will be one shake for me, please.

[It's a rare moment of her genuinely smiling at the thought of something being her own decision, though it fades quickly back to neutrality. She still had to keep an eye on that boy after all.]

[empireofmymind]

[ Ken doesn't know what you're talking about. He is always modest. Always. There is nothing special about him whatsoever.

Except for, you know, absolutely everything.

He'll wait until they're alone again to speak up. ] A shake at your age is surprising. I'm impressed.

[ He just called you old.

And childish.

There's no point in denying the truth. ]

[wovensecrets]

[Oh... she definitely caught on to that implication, with a momentary flash of irritation at her own moment of self-indulgence. Why shouldn't she treat herself, when this was what she was putting up with?

She shrugs it off.]

Adults can afford to treat themselves for a special occasion.

[And getting to bear witness to it should be considered a privilege. After all, here she was letting a child practically order her around, and was clearly letting him get away with it.]

[empireofmymind]

What an honor.

[ No food yet? This service is terrible. Don't they know who they're keeping waiting?

Insects. Wurmple eggs, even. ]

[wovensecrets]

[She'd thought he'd get a kick out of that, a little present for his ego. She is starting to get a little irritated with the lack of food, herself, being pushed to wait like this. Just how complicated had that order been?]

Indeed. For some reason, I feel like I'm in the presence of a future celebrity. It'll be interesting to find out if that's the case...

[A server comes back out, apologizing for the delay. Their meals would be out soon.]

[empireofmymind]

Oh, I'm nothing exceptional.

[ Lies. Lies and smokescreens, all of it. The irony pleases Ken enough that he's even able to lift a hand benevolently to the server. Irritation twinges in his side, but it's livable.

Continued exposure to her presence, though. That's an unpleasant side effect. ]

[wovensecrets]

There's that modesty again. I certainly hope you don't lose it, when you grow up. It's a promising trait to have.

[She smiles again, mostly pleased at herself for being able to say the words and not laugh instead.]

[empireofmymind]

Are you speaking from experience?

[ Ken, on the other hand, thinks nothing of the fact that he can continue this disgraceful conversation. The world's only perfect human being can do anything. ]