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test drive

Test Drive Meme (October + November)

TEST DRIVE MEME: OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 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 Fall is here, and with it come colder temperatures and shorter days. As a result, many herds of different pokémon can be observed passing through the general area on the way to warmer regions. Flying-type birds, rodent-like pokémon, herd pokémon and others like them will be flocking through the Rolling Plains, Verdant Forest and other areas en masse, leaving a bit of a mess in their wake. Some will even stop to rest on buildings or other fixtures. Or possibly on people, if they stand still long enough.

#2 Autumn means Soulfasting is coming to Union. Ninetales Vale is decorated to the nines (no pun intended) in preparation for the celebration, and scary supplies have made their way not only into other districts around Union, but other cities as well! But be careful! This spooktacular holiday isn't all treats; it would seem that a few mischievous Ghost-types have decided to take advantage of the occasion to get their haunter on! Not everything is quite what it seems, but that's part of the fun, right?

#3 Drinking is a good way to keep warm, and while other cities have taken to celebrating the changing weather, when you're under ground most of the year, it's hard to pay attention to that. So to counter all of the harvest festivals, Refuge has decided to have a shindig of their own. Events include eating contests, beer tasting, and a mushroom-finding competition. The winner of the Mushroom Finding competition gets a year's supply of Refuge-brewed mead, and who wouldn't want that?!

#4 With all the herd pokémon heading south, maybe it's time that you got a little R&R as well. The southern islands have certainly built up over the last few months, with those small settlements using profits from the tourist boom to bolster their infrastructure. Looking to take a dip? There are a number of picturesque beaches. Maybe some hot springs to ease tired muscles? The volcano boasts some of the most comfortable soaking spots outside of the Scorched Forest. Just be prepared to wait in line, it's crowded out here!

#5 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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2.
[If you ask her, this is the best time of the year. There's something about Soulfasting that the rest of the year just can't live up to. Maybe she didn't have the time to make a full costume this year, but Max still made sure to have a mask before going out (an Umbreon, this time).

For now, she's just admiring the decorations.]

I've never seen this many decorations. Everyone really went all out this year...

[Of course, it's generally not a good idea to walk forward while not looking while you're going. Sorry, whoever she just bumped into.] Oh, I'm sorry- that was my bad- are you alright?

4.
[Normally, she's not really the type to travel. Sure, there's an appeal in seeing the various sights, but it's never quite enough to get her to leave her comfort zone.

But it's good to get yourself out there sometimes, right? So here she is, taking a nice little vacation. When she arrived, she wasn't entirely convinced, but now that she's found the beach...]

Oh, this would be a great place to take some photos.

[If you're looking to talk to her, you'll need to speak up, because for a moment she only has eyes for the scenery.]

Ama ma!!!

[ That scenery is disrupted by a sudden chill and the advent of a piece of...ice...? washing up on shore.

It is shortly followed by a second piece with a small dinosaur atop it, who climbs off once her "surfboard" wedges in the sand, then begins to shove it back out to sea. ] Mau.

[ But...it's melting... ]

[That's funny, did it suddenly just get cold? Max looks around, noticing the Pokemon. Oh, she's never seen that kind, she's pretty sure. Looks like they could use some help.

Max approaches carefully.] What's the matter? [She kneels down, leaning to get a look at the ice chunk. That can't last much longer, what with the warmth of the water and the sun beating down...]

I don't think that's a good idea. Here, uh - why don't we try to find you a nice log? That will last a lot longer.

Ma?

[ Amara the Amaura looks over, twitching her frill in confusion; various colors dance across it as she thinks. A log instead of ice? A log is not cold.

Would it be a cold log? ] Amaura. Maa!

[ She jumps up and down in the water to prove her point. It freezes into little ice crystals around her feet. ]

[Okay, so maybe that suggestion wasn't taken to well. The Pokemon does seem angry, but she doesn't seem pleased, so... Max shifts her weight awkward.] I'm sorry, I don't-

[She watches the water freeze around Amara's feet. Ice - she came in on that.] You want more ice? Let me think...

We could get the log nice and wet first, then you can freeze the water that's on it. That way, you'd have an icy log. That'd be cool, right? [She laughs faintly.] Bad pun, I know.

[ The pun's relative worth slides right off Amara's smooth back. She is willing to try an icy log if this human thinks that would be good. But where would they find a log....?

Oh! She can ask Trainer! Trainer knows everything. Bending her considerable length of neck in a "follow me!" gesture, Amara gallops down the beach. ] Amaura~~!!

[When her suggestion is met with a better reaction, Max smiles a little. She straightens up, prepared to search the edge of the beach for any stray driftwood that might have washed up.] Alright, we should start-

[-Oh. Okay, she can deal with this. After hesitating for half a second, she sheepishly follows Amara.] Careful, you wouldn't want to trip over a log while you're looking for one.

Raaaa! [ Amara doesn't seem concerned. She's really going to need some ice when she is done running, but for now, this is fun!

As she galumphs across the sand, a mirage appears on the horizon. The mirage features a sun umbrella and a human lounging atop it so casually, so coolly, that instead of shielding the human from the sun, that umbrella has to be used to shield the surroundings from the human's brilliance.

Amara's neck follows the swirling of rose petals across the sea breeze. She likes those. She doesn't know where they come from, but she likes them.

The human appears unaware of the approaching dinosaur-and-photographer combo. ]

[Well she'll try to keep up, but it's always surprising how fast an eager young Pokemon can move. When they finally make it there, she'll stop to catch her breath a bit. Oh, this must be the Amaura's trainer...]

I'm sorry, is she yours? [Now that she's caught her breath, she'll straighten up and rub her arm.] It seemed like she needed a little help, and then she just... lead me over here.

[ The human looks over. Be still Max's heart: even caught off-guard, this is an especially striking human.

Un(?)fortunately, she's also a rather familiar human. ~~Maybe it's legal in Refuge.~~ ] ...Deerling?

[ Only one person would ever call Max something that obnoxious.

Meanwhile, Amaura dances in the sand. This is partly from excitement and partly because the sand is hot. She moves under the umbrella. It's Trainer! It's Trainer! ] Am am mauu!

[Nobody else quite gives off the whole "human version of a sunbeam" sort of vibe, so yes, Max knows exactly who she's happened across. How strange.]

Oh, hey. [It's not that she's ever really minded the nickname, it's just... kind of weird.] I didn't realize you'd be here.

Nice vacation spot, huh?

It isn't Caldera. [ Haruka sits up. She can't remember the last time she's seen her cousin, but ~~everything about her relatives is a hazy unknown~~ she also wasn't keeping track. ] When'd you get back?

[ A Beartic with a tiny bow tucked in front of one ear lumbers up the beach, her fur sodden. When she sees the dance Amaura is performing, she smooths her fur down and trundles over to offer some cooling paws. Now, now. You're a lady. A lady should never make her distress known! ] Bear.

About a month ago. [Maybe Max should have contacted Haruka, told her that she'd be coming back. But it's not like they're close or anything. She's just another person on a long list of people Max probably should have talked to. How about that.

Anyway, now she's here. Max watches the two Pokemon (after swallowing a small jolt of fear from seeing such a big Pokemon) with some interest. Does Haruka just train ice-types, or...?] Looks like you've been pretty busy.

A-a-a-a-ma!! [ Beartic paws tickle, apparently. Haruka waits until the dinosaur isn't making quite so much noise before replying, propping herself up on one leg in the meantime.

She shrugs. ] And you still take pictures.

[ That's an extravagant hobby. Almost as extravagant as training rocks on legs to run in circles when you ask them to.

Remember who never talks about themselves (except when other people don't want her to)? Yep. ]

Of course. [It's strange to think about what her life would be like without that. Maybe that's kind of sad, considering the lives so many other people live. Well, she's never been one to seek much excitement...]

How is your Rhyhorn? [She remembers World Shaking fondly. Not the most charming Pokemon, but still striking.]

Evolved. [ Twice. ] His daughter likes running, too, but....

[ ....but she's tiny. And she doesn't understand her third Rhyhorn - not everybody liking to race is one thing, but a Rhyhorn who would rather not run at all? - so she leaves Fights with Brilliance unmentioned. (At least she's sparkly.)

She runs a hand through her hair. ] I mostly referee nowadays. When I can.

Wow, you really have been busy.

[One Rhyhorn seemed like enough of a hassle, but. Wow.]

I think I heard something about that. You... work at the theater now, right? [Kind of unexpected, but Max supposes there's stranger things her cousin could be doing.]

Just finished a show. [ Thank the gods. Maybe they can manage to save the world from a second Cataclysm before casting call for the next one.

Haaaaahh.

Haruka nods at her Amaura, who is now building a sandcastle with her Beartic. For some reason they are trying to make it perfectly round. For obvious reasons, they are failing. ] Was she bothering you?

I'll have to come by the next time you do one. [Should have come by this time. Don't dwell on it, Max. It doesn't seem to upset Haruka. Or maybe she's just too polite to say anything.]

No, not at all. [Seems she's given up the chase for a surfboard.] She's very... friendly.

[ Haruka chuckles. This is a good opening for her to ask how much Max (and Max's family) has heard about the gods returning, but honestly? The less they know the better. She joined the Divine Defense Force so people like Max don't have to worry about things like the gods. ] I feel a little bad about the temperature. She can only stay out for so long.

[ Amara twitches her frills at Max when she feels eyes on her. Lookit, lookit! It's.....something! ] Aura!

Still, I'm sure it's exciting for her to get out somewhere new. [It's a good thing for anyone to do. Max smiles at Amara when the Pokemon chirps at her.]

She's very sweet.

Mm. [ Hers have that tendency. It makes deciding who goes into battle with her that much simpler, however.

But that's not something one brings up with family, either. Haruka nods to the Warp Band that she doesn't remember Max having worn before. ] You're a Trainer now too?

[ Beartic goes into the surf to find shells and Amara freezes the ocean around her. Whee!! ]

Miju, mijuma!

[...yup. Here's an Oshawott at your feet, waving his arms and trying to get your attention.]

[What's that? Sound like a Pokemon. Max looks around... then down. Oh!]

Hey there. [She'll kneel down to better, uh, speak with this Oshawott.] What's the matter?

Juma.

[aaaand he strikes an awesome pose. You wanted to take pictures, right? Surely this is why you came allllll the way here!]

[This is a great pose, and the lighting right now is pretty good. You don't even have to tell her to take the photo, she'll pull out her camera and prep it.]

Hold still... [Click, flash!] Perfect.

[whoooa.] M-miju. [that was a little bright. He blinks, rubbing at his eyes but...yeah, no. He's recovered. Eeeeeee he's going to be so cool and famous!]

Miiiiju ju. [was that okay? Should he keep doing this pose or should he switch it up? Did he blink?]

[That was pretty bright, huh?] Oh, sorry about that. I'll give you a warning next time.

[But he seems okay, so she'll prep her camera again.] How about another one? Then you can have a photo to take home. Strike a pose!

[Max isn't the only traveling photographer here today. There's yet another woman in her early twenties, tall and athletic, meandering along the beach in a two piece with a camera around her neck. And bouncing along beside her was a Spoink, the little piggy oinking happily and making a pattern in the sand with her tail.

Laughing brightly at the comment, the woman nodded.]

Yep. I did a calendar last fall entirely of the islands and the local Pokemon. It's just about the right time of year for people to start missing summer, too.

You did? [Max lights up at the thought.] If you don't mind, I'd love to see it sometime. I bet you got a lot of great shots here.

Oh yeah, no worries there!

[Yuuna sticks out her hand in greeting.]

I'm Yuuna, by the way. Third Ranger Division Field Medic, and sometime Pokemon photographer.

[She'll take Yuuna's hand and shake it a little hesitantly.]

It's nice to meet you. I'm Max. [She'll drop her hand and shift her weight a little, self-conscious.

Yuuna's so cool, and look at her just awkwardly standing here...] I've been hoping to break into photography more, and I figured this... would be a good place to get some shots.

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