Test Drive Meme 015

[voidtreckermods]

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

1. Post with your character, including their name and series in the subject. We’ve written out some prompts but feel free to make up your own, you have a whole train to play with!

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

3. Have lots of fun. Mandatory, mod-sanctioned fun.

Happy testing!

A Quiet Place

A double carriage with a staircase at each end, the quiet coach has five booths on each floor. With frosted glass doors, locks on the inside, and a pair of comfy benches each, they’re luxuriously private on a train that’s anything but. There are no ICP screens, and each booth is completely soundproof.



Granted, two of the rooms downstairs have been merged in an act of vandalism and are now a workshop-slash-forge, but that has its own attraction. Plenty of things to mess with, plenty of boxes of scraps. The main tinkerer’s not home. Hey, isn’t that a welding torch?



No? Well, you were early enough to snag a room for yourself. Perhaps you’re not alone, or you’re expecting company. Or maybe you forgot to lock the door, and now someone’s in here with you. Awkward.

Too Many Cooks

Once a single room, the kitchen now sprawls over two floors. Banks of industrial electric ovens, a long, steel countertop facing them. Cupboards full of oven trays and pans, racks of implements and appliances. On the first floor, sinks and modern appliances, and cupboards full of crockery.



This month, the month of Harrow, the recipes are centred around chocolate. Chicken Mole, chocolate ravioli, cocoa chilli… it may begin to taste a little sickly sweet after the first week. Fortunately, there’s plenty of room for experimentation as people start to beg for other meals. And a lot of chocolate going spare.



And when the preparation is finished, and the meals have been sent over to the dining carriage… there are stacks, and stacks, and stacks of plates. Pots. Cutlery. And no dishwashers.



Well, no, that’s not strictly true. You’re there.

Allegorical Devices and Other Foes

The world of Torcera, designation #450720816. With a civilisation level roughly equivalent to the medieval ages, the train has deposited its Voidtreckers in a castle town, in which several kingdoms have assembled for an annual tournament. Banners fly from every roof, chattering squires and servants tug mounts this way and that. Some resemble horses with trailing antlers and four lidded eyes, others great flightless birds, and a third popular choice is a species of lanky winged dogs, albeit for the sake of fairness their wings are strapped loosely to their saddles. As a world ignorant of Void travel, you have all been given access to the dressing car’s voluminous stores. Dresses, chainmail, jerkins, or even a few suits of full plate… and plenty of hooded capes. Evil is afoot at the tournament, and you are to root it out.

Team One

Courtiers and their adjutants have travelled from all corners of the planet to assemble for the tournament; the empress herself is said to be participating, and stakes are high. Your team has been tasked with determining the identity of the empress in the tourney, and the identity of her foes, so that Team Two can move in. To this end, you are to mingle with the court and, if necessary, break into personal quarters. Brief instruction in protocol will not be provided.

Team Two

Once you know the identity of the Empress, you can move to defend her - you’re relatively sure she’s either the helmed hedge knight of the crested monlion, or the masked outrider with the seagoose crest and a mount with plumage of deepest blue. But you can’t be sure, and until you are, you’re to sign up for the tourney and look for troublemakers. The melee will be held in the afternoon, and tomorrow the individual lists. Mounts are available, as are a staggering number of weapons. Ideally, the final round would be a number of Voidtreckers, and the Empress. How to arrange that?

Team Three

Team One is in the court. Team Two in the lists. And you, Team Three, are amongst the common folk. Rumours abound, the atmosphere is festive, and several events are open to ordinary citizens on the second day, including one bohort with a single wish of the Empress as the prize. No great problem, perhaps... if not for the tales of a younger brother, long lost, looking to usurp the throne. Unrest is stirring in the town behind the colourful stalls and laughing children, and it's up to you to determine where, and why.

Comments

[light_of_willpower]

"I think he probably gauges it to his student." At least Trunks hoped so, since he had no idea what Q-Course was. Cassie's power level from what he could tell was definitely up there, but he also knew the threats Piccolo had faced. "Definitely the silent type, but a good man. I'm glad he's here."

[nutkrusher]

"Yeah, I like the guy," Cassie says. "Taught me how to fly, for one thing."

She starts to strap on the pieces for her arms and shoulders.

Please assume he looks more playful-grin-smirk than evil smirk?

[light_of_willpower]

"Fun isn't it?" Trunks agreed, with a return of his smile. "He didn't just keep throwing you at the ground until you learned to miss, did he?" Okay, now there was a hint of mischievous grin too.

Watching what she did, because he'd have to put on his armor next.

[nutkrusher]

Cassie's own grin widens. "Nah, not enough ground to get shoved onto. Really, I already knew how to redirect my momentum in mid-air. It came down to meditating. Spending some time getting intimate with the ceiling of the gym car, that kinda stuff."

She finishes putting on her gauntlets and twirls once in place.

"So how do I look?"

[light_of_willpower]

"Like competition." She looked more comfortable than he'd be; like she'd worn this stuff before, and just like he'd said. "Which is meant as a compliment." With a thumbs up and a smile.

Doing his best to not focus in any way, for himself, that she definitely could do the 'look pretty' part of what she'd said earlier. He'd only just gotten his blush to vanish. Of course, now it would be his turn...

[nutkrusher]

"It's good you've got that much confidence in yourself," Cassie says, winking.

"Your turn now."

[light_of_willpower]

Trunks just started to cross his arms, mischievous smirk still in place. Even chuckling a bit with the wink. Sometimes he had a cocky streak, and as long as he tried to not let it affect his good sense, he could usually back it up.

The next statement though brought the wide eyes, and his arms dropping to his sides. "Ri-right..." Blinking, before he asked a question. "Do you have to do the legs first, or would you rather I got your help so you can head on out? I didn't mean to take up so much of your time."

[nutkrusher]

"I'm pretty sure it tends to be easier, yeah," Cassie says.

"Besides, I'm liking the conversation."

[light_of_willpower]

"I'm not used to having people I can talk to." Trunks replied, moving to try and mimic what she'd done with greaves and cuisse. "I don't really have a lot of friends, and the last pretty girl who talked to me this long was also trying to kill me."

Yes, that did just slip out because he's focused on the armor.

[nutkrusher]

Cassie's eyebrows raise at that remark. A kind of surprised, stifled laugh escapes her.

"...Y'know, a couple minutes ago, I'd have found that really hard to believe. What kind of place did you grow up in?"

[light_of_willpower]

A frown marred his face, brows drawing closer. "I don't know what Piccolo's told you about our world, but I'm from a different point in time. The 'me' that's in his world proper is actually only about 6 months or so." That explains why he's familiar with alternate dimension-timelines anyways.

"In my world, 3 years before I was born, Earth's greatest hero died. Not in battle, but from a heart virus. 3 years and 6 months later, other fighters and heroes tried to stop killer androids that had been engineered to destroy that great hero--and failed." Making himself take a deep breath, or he's going to break one of the greaves uninentionally. "My mother, myself, and Gohan were the only survivors of that group--and no one else stands a chance. Mom's not a fighter, but a genius in science and engineering and so many other ways. She and Gohan did what they could, but I grew up kind of sheltered."

[nutkrusher]

The smirk has vanished completely. Her eyes have softened.

"Shit, I'm sorry," she says. "I know that it's...a lot to have to carry. Everybody else steps up and swings and misses. Then it comes to be your turn, and all anyone's got to say to you is 'You're up, kid, there's nobody else.'"

[light_of_willpower]

"Yeah. Especially when Gohan died..." Okay, good thing the greaves are on because he needs a moment here. Clenched fists, another deep breath, eyes closed. One more deep breath, then he can focus on the cuisse. "I was...young, stupid--I tried to stop them and avenge Gohan, when I was 15--and they kicked my butt and almost killed me."

There is a bitter twist to his mouth. "They didn't because I'm the closest thing they have to a toy that they don't break easily." Definitely still a painful memory. "They're twins, these androids--with the boy having black hair and the girl blonde, and both have cold, ice blue inhuman eyes."

[nutkrusher]

"My parents don't like to talk about the day all their friends died," Cassie says. "Every one of Earthrealm's best defenders, except them. Liu Kang had been the best of them, but he...well, he didn't make it either. The god of thunder was able to stop the Outworld invasion, but then the Netherrealm came with an invasion of oni, orochi, and undead. They had to fight all their old friends as revenants."

She shuts her eyes and breathes in.

"Then, twenty years later, they came back, this time even stronger. We were about five minutes from Hell on Earth. Our plan had gone to shit, and I'd spent the better part of the last week getting my ass kicked. But there was no one else. Just me and my squad."

She opens her eyes again.

"I can't help you from here on this train, but...I hope you find a way to come through. Maybe get a little lucky like I did."

[light_of_willpower]

She really did get it. He's looking a bit awed and surprised again, before a smile comes to his face. Reaching out, Trunks put a hand on her shoulder over the armor, grip firm. "Thank you, and I'm glad you made it through. You will again." Entirely sincere, and determined.

"If nothing else, while we're here we can help each other. I do owe you that spar after all, for helping me with this."

[nutkrusher]

A smile returns to Cassie's face, softer and less smug than before. She turns her head, looking back over the hand he's placed on her shoulder.

"That's right," she says. "You do. Maybe we can get a head start on that in the tournament."

She hands him the cuirass.

[light_of_willpower]

"Lemme get this piece on first..." He can't take the Cuirass just yet, as he has the Cuisse to do. Unless she wants to help him with that part too. "And I am definitely finding you in the tournament. Either as ally or opponent." Determined with that, and that hint of smirk again.

[nutkrusher]

Cassie would be sorely tempted to help with the cuisse if he made the offer. Ahem.

"Care to place a wager on who makes it further?"

[light_of_willpower]

"Depends on if we have to pretend to be normal or not. No breaking out the super-powers and stuff." He's fiddling with the armor as it is, and not thinking at all. "Little help?"

[nutkrusher]

"I'm guessing we do," Cassie says.

Her grin widens.

"Sure thing."

She won't be any handsier than necessary. But she's got a feeling she'll be making Trunks feel a little uncomfortable anyway.

[light_of_willpower]

Yes, especially since he just realized what he asked. Crapbaskets. Eyes widening and she probably will savor that deer-in-headlights look. "The..then no wager. I'd rather just see what you do, first." Trying to stay focused on their conversation as she moves closer to help.

[nutkrusher]

"Yeah, save the gambling for when we're alone," Cassie says.

She pauses about half a beat as she fastens the last strap of the cuisse. Lets him squirm for just a bit.

"I could probably book the gym car for a sparring session when we get back."

Which is totally what she's talking about.

"That leaves the cuirass. Let me strap this on."

She helps him into it and starts to fasten it together. She knows she won't have to go far to get a reaction.

[light_of_willpower]

"I'm not really a gambler." Trunks murmurs, tense and definitely squirming. "But I do look forward to the fight. It's been a while since I've had anyone interested in training with me." Moving as she indicates, and trying to ignore his blush. Keep his head up, and not focused on how close she is.

[nutkrusher]

"It's a lot better when you've got someone else to motivate you," Cassie says.

Perhaps unfortunately for Trunks, she's started with the top straps and is moving downward.

[light_of_willpower]

Trying hard to not think about that actually, along with the rest. "Depends on the motivation." There might be a hint of bitterness in his tone. Vegeta wanted very little to do with him, even while they'd spent a year training together, after all. Trunks had mostly been a punching bag in many ways for that.