Test Drive Meme 010

[voidtreckermods]

Welcome to our Test Drive Meme! Here is the place to see how your character might fit the setting, grab some samples and start having fun!

1. Post with your character. I’ve written out some prompts but feel free to make up your own, you have a whole train to play with!

2. Assume they have been around long enough for threads to jump right into the action!

3. Have much fun!

Happy testing!

Greenhouse

The newest carriage is a greenhouse.

The ceiling is a dome shape, a single metal beam runs from one end to another, mounted on this beam are large bright lights.

The aisle of grass runs down the middle, from one door to the next. Stone paths branch off around raised beds of soil. Nothing is growing yet but there are crates in which passengers can find a whole host of seeds and bulbs for various flowers.

Plenty for passengers with green fingers to do! Plant some seeds, tend to those they have planted already. Chase away people who have no idea what they are doing! Remind them they have to take the seeds out of the packet first!

If planting is a new thing then the ICP has some handy gardening tips or they can always ask their fellow Voidtreckers!

Sports Balls

For those who prefer their hobbies much more energetic then the gym's cupboard is full of balls. Balls for every sport they can imagine! The space is long and narrow which means a little bit of adapting but there is plenty of fun to be had. Start a game of football, or basket ball.

Make some new friends and get some friendly rivalry going!

Monkey Madness!

It's a strange mission to be sure but the Voidtreckers have been called to help a huge zoo tackle a problem. Every monkey enclosure has been broken open and the creatures have gotten out and into the city, where they are causing mayhem.

Team One

Though the monkeys don't pose much threat to human life they cause quite a big of damage. Team one is to try and get as many businesses and homes safe as possible. Bring things indoors, reinforce doors and windows. Warn those in the city of the incoming horde!

Team Two

Round up the monkeys! The aim is to do this without harming and luckily they have some capture devices, that can be thrown to spring straps around a creature. Bribing them is also encouraged. The city has prepared vans for the creatures to be lured or taken to. Careful though, these monkeys are cunning and mischievous and clever enough to steal the capture devices and throw them back at the Voidtreckers! Who is catching who?

Team Three

Back in the zoo there is plenty to do. First and foremost the enclosures need fixing and reinforced. Also an investigation is underway to figure out what happened and who is responsible. If DIY or investigating work is not in a passengers skill set then there are still many other animals that need fed and cleaned!

Reward time!

Soon all the monkeys are back in their proper homes and the city put back to rights! As a thank you the zoo is handing out free ice cream and a free pass to enjoy the zoo for the day.

Have fun!

Comments

[faithfulsupport]

Left it would be and he smiled. Watching Noct out there try to capture one had indeed been so worth staying on the sidelines for, though he had wanted to jump in there as well.

He felt that look and smirked at the king. "Left is a good direction in that case." the advisor pronounced. "If we go right, you might find that you have a monkey on your back."

The puns felt good and he laughed, careful to keep his back turned from Noct or the other might catch him laughing. Usually he wouldn't, but the distance and time had definitely taken a toll on that.

[sonoflucis]

Noct started laughing again. Maybe monkeys were just intrinsically funny. Still, he tilted his head when Ignis turned away from him. It was a small thing, but Noct did take notice. He wondered if it was just because of how long Ignis has been here, or if there was more meaning to it.

"You okay?"

[faithfulsupport]

At the question, the advisor startled slightly. But typical Ignis response was typical. "Of course all is well." He couldn't say how much he'd missed the man beside him. Such things were hardly ever spoken of except in jest, like when Noct came back from being a toad once or twice, Ignis had said 'hoppy to see you'.

"Shall we be off?"

[sonoflucis]

Noct nodded, not surprised at the stock response he got from Ignis. He started walking alongside Ignis, looking at the animals in the zoo. He stopped at an exhibit, looking at the animals inside. "I can tell when you're avoiding a topic, you know? I've known you long enough." He said, not looking at Ignis.

[faithfulsupport]

He had to give and Ignis knew it, because that was always the way it was. Noct would want whatever it was and Ignis would be there trying to give whatever it was to him even if he personally had to struggle his ass off, get into trouble (like being caught sneaking outside of the Citadel to go look at the stars on Noct's whim) or not yell when the prince (at the time) returned his favourite constellations book with scratches.

With a sigh he took a look at the tigers and marveled at how majestic they looked. Why had he been compared to one of these noble animals? Well it kept his mind busy as he tried to figure out a way to answer Noct. So he avoided the king's gaze as he replied, shifting a little uncomfortably. "I.." His voice faltered so he tried again. "I simply was rather thought you wouldn't put in an appearance."

[sonoflucis]

Noct couldn't help but turn his gaze back to Ignis and he sort of regretted doing so. Seeing Ignis so unsure made him feel uneasy. "You mean show up here? I mean..." He watched a tiger pace and thought it looked a lot like Ignis right now...nervous and trapped. "It's not the best scenario, if time is still ticking away at home...but I am glad we're together. Back home, we had all been separated..."

[faithfulsupport]

"More than you realize." the advisor countered. "Gladio's timeframe in arriving here is at an earlier point in time than mine. And Prompto is from a later time than I am." He paused because facts and logic were easier to deal with than the regret of leaving Noct the way he'd left him.

Turning to the king now, Ignis nodded. "So tell me..what was the last event that took place before you arrived here Noct?"

[sonoflucis]

Noct took a deep breath. "I knocked Prompto off a train...so we went to go get him." Noct felt sick just thinking about it. "I got separated from you and Gladio...couldn't use my weapons..." He never felt so worthless...so weak. "How much...how much do you know? About the future?"

[faithfulsupport]

Green eyes went wide at the news. And he was more than sure the king wouldn't want to talk about it. So Ignis shifted their conversation easily enough with the question.

Turning to look back at the tigers, he shook his head. "I..left you at the Altar of the Tidemother in Altissia. Ravus was there and I turned around." His hand had reached up to grab one of the bars on the tigers' cage. He'd abandoned Noctis completely unintentionally, but it had been done all the same.

"The next thing I knew, I was boarding a train and all of you were..gone." He figured Noct would know of Lady Lunafreya's fate since it definitely seemed as if the king had been to his point in time already.

[sonoflucis]

Noct sucked in a breath, but he still felt like he couldn't get enough air. Luna...It still hurt to think about. It always would. If only he had been stronger, she would still be alive. Still...Gladio had been right. He couldn't waste time mourning. Especially when others had it worse.

"Did Prompto tell you anything about...anything about after that?"

[faithfulsupport]

The silver glove eased its grip on the bar when there were no recriminating words, and no blame or guilt coming from the king.

Instead he dared to look over when Noct asked him that odd question. "N..no he rather hasn't. But if you know, I would certainly prefer that you tell me." He would somehow rather hear the news, whatever it was from the king.

[sonoflucis]

Why couldn't he breath? Guilt washed over him. He couldn't lie to Ignis. Not to Ignis. "Because of me...I'm not sure how...but because you were protecting me..." He turned to Ignis and reached out, gingerly touching where Ignis would one day carry a scar. "You...you won't be able to see..."

[faithfulsupport]

Noctis was in pain and that was the first thing that registered in the advisor's mind. Now the questions were what was wrong and how to fix it.

His eyes widened at the unexpected soft touch of Noct's hand so he was speechless as the king spoke to him. He heard every word and inwardly was upset. But to Noct he just nodded.

"As long as you're safe, then that is what matters." Ignis would die for the man in front of him, plain and simple.

[sonoflucis]

"No, Ignis." Noct said, his voice tight. "You matter. I didn't handle Luna's death well, and I didn't say the right things afterward. I didn't treat you right. That isn't right." He swore he wouldn't take Ignis for granted again. "I don't know what happened after I passed out. You wouldn't say. But please... Swear to me. Swear to me you won't take such a risk... Not for me..." He wasn't worth it.

[faithfulsupport]

"As well you shouldn't have or be expected to since she meant a great deal to you." Ignis had been very angry that such a cruel hand of fate had been dealt to Noct. Plus he knew the other fate that rested on the king's shoulders.

He didn't know what to do with the words Noctis was saying and so he shook his head. Something was bothering the other and his advisor didn't know what to do. But he was very touched at the kindness and consideration being shown to him.

And due to that his voice came out softly, wishing he dared to touch the other even to offer whatever poor comfort to his distraught king. After all it was in his personal job description to be everything and anything the other needed.

"Noct..you know very well that I can't make that promise. You are the king and its my job to protect you no matter what the cost."

[sonoflucis]

Noct knew that was the answer he would get, but it still caused a lump in his throat, and his voice wavered. "Iggy..." He moved forward, pressing his forehead against Ignis' shoulder. "I knew you say that. I'll..." He hated that his voice squeaked when he was holding back tears. "Do my best to make it worth it."

[faithfulsupport]

The king took him by surprise with the head resting against his shoulder and his fists clenched at his sides, unsure as to what to do. Obviously Noct was in pain and very slowly his hands clenched.

Slowly and hesitantly Ignis put his arms around the king, holding him close. He hoped against hope he was doing the right thing, but he knew precisely what that squeaky tone meant.

His tone lowered a little more when he spoke next and he briefly thought back to their childhood together. "You've always been worth it Noct."

And obviously the man now in his arms had definitely matured some.

[sonoflucis]

The hug helped. It helped more than Noct could say. Ignis' opinion mattered a lot to him. He knew that Ignis had his pride, but it was nice to know he wasn't just a job to Ignis. "And you're worth protecting. Just you wait.im going to make sure everything gets set right."

[faithfulsupport]

Ignis tried not to let his face turn a redder shade than he was sure it was at the fierceness of the words spoken. "You flatter me Noct. But look at you, you've certainly grown while I've been away." He didn't take his arms off of the other man but held on loosely. "It seems as if you're more ready to wear your father's mantle now."

There was definitely pride in the advisor's voice and he had to take the spotlight off of him. So he complimented the king and hopefully that would deflect any attention being paid to him.

[sonoflucis]

Noct shook his head. "Not yet. But I'm trying, Iggy. I'm really trying." He took a deep, steady breath before he stepped back. "I didn't mean to ruin our walk...I just...it was eating away at me, you know?"

[faithfulsupport]

Ignis smiled and let the king go. "You must walk before you can run Noct. There's no rush, and you'll get there when it's time." He wasn't an affectionate sort to ruffle the dark spikes like Gladio would but he wished for a moment that he could. So instead he shook his head. "And you've ruined nothing, so we've yet to explore the rest of the zoo."

[sonoflucis]

Noct nodded. Ignis was right...and maybe being pulled to this whole train thing was the chance to grow. "Thanks, Iggy. You always know exactly what I need to hear." He looked back at the tigers. "They're really breathtaking, aren't they?"

[faithfulsupport]

"Call it years of service by your side." Ignis smiled gently. He turned back to the animals and heard that breathtaking word. Was that what was meant by earning that nickname? No, it was simply an off the cuff comment.

Nodding to the king he smiled. "They remind me of our coeurls back home."

[sonoflucis]

Noct's smile softened. "Yeah. Except they can't electrocute us." He chuckled. "I'm glad to see you smiling, Iggy." Ignis was always so reserved growing up, but his smile was something that he seemed to reserve for Noct. Somehow, seeing him smile for other people filled Noct with relief.

"You've been okay here, right? I mean, I'm glad we're all together again, but you haven't been alone, right?"

[faithfulsupport]

That earned Noctis a slight laugh. "Well that certainly is a good point." Ignis steadfastly refused to admit that he wondered what happened to have changed Noctis from the time he left, but he didn't dare ask because he wondered if Lady Lunafreya's death had put the new maturity in those eyes, especially with that observation.

Being six and taking on such a huge responsibility wasn't something one could laugh over often. Under the weight of it on thin shoulders, Ignis wrapped his entire world around Noctis. From a career of wanting to be the general of his armies to going to meetings and working on his physical self of being strong enough to protect the then Prince in battle, it was always Noct. Then there was the cooking and all of the hats he wore just to be of service to the man at his side. And that was where he'd been the happiest.

That sobering question hit Ignis and he shook his head. One of his top rules was to never worry Noctis but also never to lie to him either. "N..no I rather haven't." Moving away from the king in order to be able to get his thoughts together, he wasn't sure where to start. He took a steadying breath while thinking of something Gladio had told him. "When I arrived, I had left you at Ravus' hands. But soon I found myself elected the leader of the Blue team when I hadn't voted for anyone. So I had responsibilities much like back home so it was an easy way to cope with all of the changes by throwing myself into work." He sighed and moved further away. Typical Ignis when in doubt, grind.

"But then I met someone and we've recently become engaged." There was a slight note of hesitation to the tone only because Noct and his own upbringing had been the subject of one of their arguments though Ignis would never tell the king that. And he'd been wondering if the king's presence might cause a rift that couldn't be rectified, so it was a wait and see approach the advisor had to take.

But he didn't want to dwell on that because he didn't want to worry the other so he smiled. "And for the record though you didn't hear this from me, Prompto and Gladio are courting." That would give him something else to be happy about right? Was the shield right when he said Noctis wouldn't begrudge happiness?