Test Drive Meme (December + January)

[bravenewmods]

TEST DRIVE MEME: DECEMBER + JANUARY 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 The end of the year means Salvation holiday is in full swing in Union. This month long celebration means that houses, businesses and other establishments are decorated to the nines in garlands, ornaments and other fineries, and that retail establishments are sure to be swamped. There is an outcry for helpers around these various shops, and while jobs here do not necessarily pay well, the discounts on goods cannot be beat. Just beware of difficult customers...

#2 With the biting cold settling in most places, Caldera has seen a sudden influx of visitors. Something about being in extremely close proximity to a volcano seems to have some kind of appeal, and places are packed. But what does that matter to tourists? It’s warm, the food is good, and the crowds in the business district aren’t nearly as cut-throat. Residents of the city, however, might get a bit fed up with the sudden surge in (temporary) population. Caldera wasn’t meant to take so many people.

#3 Whereas most of the countryside is barren during this time of year, Citadel stays green despite the cold temperatures. With snow-like blooms speckling its branches, the tree that houses this settlement is a go-to place for people looking for a bit of spring in the middle of winter. Unfortunately, however, with flowers come allergies, and those not used to the blooms (and even some who are) may find themselves a bit more congested than usual.

#4 Glacier is a frozen wonderland this time of year. Literally and figuratively. The place is about 70% ice normally, and the winter bite has opened up a number of “interesting” (see: suicidal for anyone with any remote cold intolerance) activities. These include ice fishing (both with a pole and, for the brave at heart, ice noodling), speed skating, luge and the annual Beartic Swim. We hope you brought your swimsuit and a thirst for adventure!

#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!

Comments

Kon Shinonome | Amatsuki | Normal/Ghost Engineer

[ideologic]

2

Chochin. Stay outta the way.

[The tiny Litwick who had been busy getting underfoot trying to help was promptly scooped up and set atop it's trainer's head as he sidestepped his way around the rowdy kitchen to get everything in order.

The limits of Caldera's resources and the flux of tourists was obvious even to the travellers themselves, and it was easy for Kon Shinonome to find temporary work bussing the various kitchens in the taverns and eateries as he worked his way across the land to find answers of his own. Although Union was his intended destination, the weather had turned too foul to travel. Caldera's warmth was a better place to stay a while-- but just sitting or causing a mess would get boring too quickly.

Besides, money was a necessary evil, and Kon Shinonome wasn't above using it to his advantage.

When he wasn't busy in the kitchen, he could easily be found outside taking in the local sights. He stood out some with his gangly height, vibrantly patterened clothes, and the sloppy knot that his hair had been tied up in to keep it out of his face. Perhaps he's smoking as he walked. Or sucking on a piece of candy. Or chewing on whatever stick his food had been served on.

Approach? Shy away? Play with the Litwick? The choice is your's.]

[wishingalone]

[Mami visits Caldera, sometimes, of course. As a Valkyrie, she can fly between different parts of the city easily -- her ribbons help with that, along with her other abilities. She didn't quite expect to run into Kon here. But... here he is.]

[She spots him from above, while he's out walking. And smoking. Wasn't he hurt? Is that really wise? She's nothing, if not nosy.]

[She drops down a distance away, in front of him. Mami smiles, then inclines her head to him; her fingers tip her beret.] Ah, Kon. Hello. I see you're looking around Caldera.

[ideologic]

[That was months ago, Mami! Sure, things would never be one-hundred percent, but she can't honestly think that anyone hanging around any part of Citadel's territories to stay in one place for very long. Besides-- he had other things on his agenda.

Like getting to Union, and maybe making a few bucks along the way.]

Ah-- Mami! [Lowering his simplistic pipe, he grinned at the young woman. This was an unexpected, but not unwelcome, surprise.] Who wouldn't look around this place? It's actually pretty warm compared to everywere else right now.

[Warm enough that he could go around in his loose, comfortable clothes instead of messing with multiple thick layers to accomodate the season.]

Besides that, the food's pretty good. And it' fun harrassing the cooks.

[wishingalone]

[Mami nods to him.] It is quite warm here. I don't mind that, sometimes, even if I'm more than used to the cold.

[Citadel native and whatnot. It's colder up north.]

The food here is quite nice. Though, I hope you've not come here only to harass the cooks. [She winks.] Or compete with them! What brought you to Caldera, anyways?

Vivi Ornitier | Dark/Psychic Enhanced/Egg Mastery

[timedmage]

[1]

[ The city looked so pretty all done up like this! Marveling at one of the store displays, somehow the shopkeeper translated this to Vivi taking rapt interest in the HELP WANTED sign hanging on the window. Before the young black mage could so much as protest, he was given an assignment: help incoming customers.

Um what? ]

I-I don't...

[ Apparently he didn't speak up loud enough, and after a few moments of confusion, his shoulders slumped, and the Dark-type, his face strangely obscured by some kind of magic, began hesitantly helping customers. ]

...Excuse me?

[ And was likely either 1. Gets ignored, 2. Told off, or 3. Has a laundry list of directions/questions thrown his way. Yikes. Um. Okay. Regardless of the situation, the youth nods emphatically, trying to take everything in (especially if the request is particularly difficult--spoilers, it almost always is--), before trying to either help someone else, or do as he's told.

Unfortunately, the shop is a bit past capacity. Careful there, kid, you're going to run into someone at this rate. ]

[2]

[ Hearing about how warm Caldera was during this time of year, the Dark-type couldn't help but be at least a little curious. They lived by a volcano??? Was that even safe? He had to see for himself.

Toddling along through the crowds, the tip of his hat bobbed as he moved. It was really hard to see from here, especially since there seemed to be something going on. Was that guy juggling fire? Craning up to see, that didn't seem to help either. Someone give this kid a hand? ]

1 I'LL TAG BOTH HOW ABOUT THAT.

[expertonshutters]

[He barely even felt that. There's a short surprised noise from the guy you collided with. He blinks down in confusion.]

You okay kid?

My notifs on this post are seriously effed forgive

[timedmage]

[ Feeling the impact, the young boy nearly jumped out of his skin, gripping his hat instinctively. Ohhhhh gosh. ]

I-I'm sorry! I didn't--!

[ You didn't actually do anything yet ]

SO ARE MINE APPARENTLY WTF

[expertonshutters]

[Oh no, he is smol and distressed. He puts his hands out.]

Whoa, it's okay. It's crowded as can be in here. I didn't see you.

Zidane Tribal | Mankey Shifter

[getsometail]

[2]

[ Man, all of his usual haunts were packed. Ruby was up to her eyes in customers--good for her, probably, until she started complaining at him or Blank--and the rest of the boss were hustling around town doing... whatever it was that they did in their free time. Where were all these people coming from, anyway? Union? Sanctuary? It was kind of a pain to be sure, but at the same time, it kept things interesting.

Plus, more potential suckers. Well. Not that he'd actually admit that. He's changed his ways, after all. Kind of. Not really.

Spotting a potential sucker new person, his tail twitching a bit, the young shifter pushed off from the wall he was leaning against. ]

Whoa, I think you dropped something.

[ Depending on whether or not this newcomer was a man or a woman (or appear like either), they might get a different response. ]


[5]

[ Tartarus. Their name was at least somewhat well-known around Caldera. Theater troupe by day, they picked up a number of odd jobs, particularly making Gigan troops' lives a living nightmare. But here in Union, it looked like they weren't the only theatrical number in town.

That just wouldn't do.

While the rest of the boys probably had their own methods of getting word around about their newest performance, The Honedge in the Stone, Zidane had a more direct approach. You Unionites didn't know what was about to hit you.

A leaflet suddenly descending in front of your face, an upside-down smiling face sat above it. Hanging from something--be it a branch, an awning, something--by his tail, Zidane grinned easily before dropping down and offering the flyer to you. ]

You look like you could appreciate a good show. I've got just the thing for you.

2

[ideologic]

[Only a sucker would take the man in the brightly patterened overcoat who was almost idly chewing on the stick that his kebob had been served on for a sucker. Kon knew far too much of mischief to fall for cheap tricks like this and, shifting the stick so it was clenched between his teeth, he glanced down at the stranger who had approached.]

You sure 'bout that? It's too hot to be carrying all that much-- you might wanna hit up one of those ladies from the West if you wanna return anything.

2

[getsometail]

[ Hey, he's always up for a challenge. Even a crotchety guy who takes things too seriously kind of challenge. Not gonna judge here. ]

Man, saw right through that one, huh? I guess I have to change up my game a little bit.

[ He grinned. No skin off his nose. There were other ways of making this work. ]

2

[ideologic]

[A sly, mischievous grin slowly spread across the man's face at the stranger's good nature in dealing with this flub.]

Who says change it? You just need to find a better mark.

2

[expertonshutters]

[He's dressed a bit like a Unionite so it probably looks like he's an easy target. He sure is carrying a nice looking back with him.]

[An easy target, perhaps?]

Eh? Did I?

[It seems like he's taken the bait.]

2

[getsometail]

[ Too easy. He almost felt bad about this.

Almost. ]

Yeah, you'd better be careful. A pickpocket would have a heyday with you.

2

[guitar_case_vagabond]

[Ugh, this is getting STUPID already! Ryuko isn't exactly a girl who could be generally considered to be in a good mood but having to shove her way through the crowds filling up the streets of her home turf was only serving to make that even worse. Seriously, if she had to deal with one more freaking tourist today--

Maybe Zidane might have picked his sucker a little more carefully, or maybe he picked the perfect one, because when she turns around to face him there's already practically steam shooting from her nostrils.]

What?

2 [1/2]

[getsometail]

[ Oh crap. Her. From the backside, she looked like a completely different person, but Zidane knew just about most of the street-faring orphans around the Calderan circuit. He also knew that this one was loud, and generally a bit of a pain.

Although judging from her reaction, she either 1) was having a bad day, 2) didn't recognize her, or 3) all of the above. Workable. He'd at least be entertained, if nothing else; lord knows he wasn't going to actually get anything from her. ]

[2/2]

[getsometail]

[ Whelp, Zidane, you made this bed. Time to lie in it. He gives her a bit of a concerned look, tilting his head slightly, tail swishing silently behind him. ]

You look a little out of sorts. Everything okay?

Ryuko Matoi | Kill la Kill | Enhanced God of War | Fighting/Steel/Dragon

[guitar_case_vagabond]

#1

[Man, what a time to roll into town. The decorations and flashy lights is bad enough but, man, these crowds are something else. So in the middle of all this holiday cheer is one certain teenage girl who's clearly not feeling the festive mood if the perpetual scowl on her face is any indication.

For the moment, she's pretty well given up trying to navigate anywhere and has picked out a relatively-quiet looking place to get a bite to eat. ... At least the tiny Cubone sitting across from her at the table looks happy enough, munching away on its snacks, but the girl... less so as she frowns unhappily at the plate in front of her. Finally, she sighs and just leans her head on her hand.]

Man, I heard Union food was boring but they weren't kidding.


#2
[Speaking of crowds, Union's got nothing on Caldera these days it seems. Made even worse by the fact that Ryuko's usual stomping grounds are now completely swamped by a bunch of goddamned tourists! But there's more important things to worry about than that as she muscles and shoves her way through the crowd of people.]

Watch it-- hey-- comin' through-- AAGH! Get outta my way! [She shoves her way past a few visitors from other cities, ignoring their rightful indignation as she comes to a stop and looks around.] Damnit, where the hell--? I told her not to wander off.

[And not far away is the source of her worry. A small, very young Cubone dodging around feet and looking frantically for the partner it had been separated from in the hustle and confusion of the crowded streets.

Which one do you run into first?]

1

[ideologic]

You ain't joking on that one.

[Kon leaned back in his seat and poked at the dish of spiced, sauteed vegetables and fish with his chopsticks, a dissatisfied frown settling in on his face. He had heard that Union was starting to become a more metropolitan city with the foreign influences it has allowed within it's walls since it opened itself up to the world...but this?]

Sheesh. I was hoping for some actual meat in this weather!

[The little Litwick sitting on his shoulder chittered in disapproval at Kon's apparent rudeness-- to which Kon snorted under his breath in reply.]

Quiet, Chochin. Some of us have refined tastes!

[guitar_case_vagabond]

[Look, Ryuko's no food expert but she knows what she hates. Oh, boy, does she ever know what she hates and she kind of hates this. It wouldn't be so bad if the menu hadn't outright lied to her by promising a spicy stir fry.]

Keh. [She glances over at Kon's direction with a characteristically sour look before grabbing a quick chug from her glass of water and banging it back down on the table.] Think it'd kill them to put some taste into this stuff.

Hey! [She raises her head, looking around for a member of the staff.] Can I get some hot pepper over here or something?

[Yes. She is that kind of customer.]

[Meanwhile her Cubone blinks a few times and starts examining its own food as if trying to figure out what has her so upset about it.]

1.

[platinumlucifer]

[ In-between guard duty shifts, Excellen liked to try the various restaurants in the area, in the vague hope that Union had discovered something resembling flavor. So far this week, she had struck out, but after hearing a few good things about this place, the blond was doing her best to keep optimistic. There had to be something about this place that would tickle her fancy.

Seated at a nearby table, she pulled off the various pieces of cold weather clothing off (seriously, it was way too cold, Union you need a volcano or something), she noticed something familiar. Hey, she could have sworn she'd seen that Cubone before...

Then that voice. ]

Ryuki?

[ She knew that bitching anywhere. Turning around and leaning over the top of her booth, she looked down, her whole face lighting up once she saw the younger girl. Target acquired. RIP. ]

Ryuki, that is you!

[guitar_case_vagabond]

[If Ryuko could have brought herself to take another bite of this, by her standards, depressingly bland and droopy food she would've spat it all out all over the table. As it is, she just sits upright, back going stiff when she hears that voice. That godawful nickname!]

Wha-? Uwah! [She whips around and immediately shoots right back to the other end of the booth when she comes right up against Excellen's wide grinning face.] What're you doin' here?!

[And, hey, wait a sec--]

And quit callin' me that!

2

[heartandsoul]

[Maka, being a Kindred Soul, has the tendency to stop everything that she's doing and check on how a Pokemon is doing.

Ryuko's Cubone is one of those Pokemon. She sees the poor thing trying not to get stepped on and picks her up so the worst of it can be avoided.]

Hi there, little guy. Did you lose someone?

[Only a Unionite would have no issue with just picking up a stray Pokemon and talking to it in the middle of creation.]

[guitar_case_vagabond]

[The Cubone gives a little squawk of surprise when she's suddenly picked up off the ground, though the flash of panic fades away when she turns her head to look at the human that had saved her from the terrible, stomping feet.

She's a little thing, even by the standards of her species, and clearly very young and by the impression she's giving off it looks like Maka's hunch is right on the money. Lost. Lost and scared.

Aaaand not far away there's some kind of scuffle going on. It seems like some girl has decided to hop up onto one of the many vendor stalls lining the streets and is hollering at the top of her lungs.]

HEY! I'M OVER HERE! WHERE'D YOU GO?! -- Ack, hey, get the hell offa me! [And that sure is the owner of the stall reaching up to yank the girl getting footprints all over his stuff back to the ground. He gets a palm to the face as Ryuko makes an impressive show of standing her ground... so to speak.] Lemme go! I'm tryin' to find my friend! HEY, CUBONE!

[Cubone's reaction is immediate. Lifting her head toward the source of that voice as a rush of recognition rises from her. That's her! That's her friend!]

Neo Politan | RWBY | Ditto Shifter

[youscream]

Any Location Really
Union, Caldera, anyplace she visits around this time of year is jampacked with crowds of people mobbed shoulder to shoulder and far too focused on enjoying the festivities to pay much mind to the tiny, odd girl with multicolored hair and eyes weaving between them with an open parasol resting across her shoulder.

Of course, that's just the way she likes it and big crowds like this are perfect for honing her particular skillset and many citizens and tourists alike in either city will soon find themselves with their pockets lightened. A girl's gotta have some spending money in the big city after all!

Oh, but then she spies an interesting looking character indeed. With a smirk she suddenly steps out of the crowd right into their path with a smile on her face. Closing the parasol she twirls it around her wrist before doing a little spin and bowing to the target. Care to stop and see what this is all about?

5
Unbeknownst to many who aren't involved in law enforcement of some kind, or crime, Neo here is quite a prominent member in Union's underworld being a lieutenant of a powerful crime boss. She's quite the mysterious figure too and nobody seems to be able to recall her ever saying a word, though her uncanny knack at simply walking in and out of "secure" locations is rather infamous. It might have something to do with the Duskull occasionally seen in her company but nobody can say for sure.

... One strange thing is the bizarre resemblance she bears to a certain Union Enlightened who was found murdered some time ago. The hair and eyes are all wrong but the face is undeniably similar. The case is unsolved to this day and the strangest part of it all is the disappearance of the lone Ditto the trainer traveled with....