Test Drive 018

[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.

Happy testing!

Heated Debate

The spa carriage, the newest addition to the train, boasts sunlamps and loungers, massage tables stocked with fluffy towels and a variety of oils and lotions, an enclosed sauna… Soothing birdsong fills the warm, scented air, and the terminals offer several masseuse courses or a playlist of relaxing music.

In pride of place, a three-tiered heated bath in the centre of the room, each tier able to fit five people comfortably.

‘Comfortably’? Well, it could definitely fit more, but it might get a little awkward, depending on your feelings on personal space. Ditto with the sauna, really. But the important thing is, you got here first.

Didn’t you?

Getting Draughty In Here

The lower floor of this carriage is open and sprawling, with two wide, low tables and plenty of cushions and beanbags. The walls are lined with shelves and wooden chests, both filled with games. Board games, card games, you name it, though train themes feature heavily. On a shelf of its own sits a case of Duel Monsters cards.

The upper floor is split into two. One half has a pile of oversized games - lawn jenga, twister, giant connect4 - and the other, sectioned off with soft rope barriers, hosts a screen, a console, and a variety of video game controllers, including four VR headsets.

Perhaps you’re testing yourself in one of the VR Crisis simulators. Perhaps you’re learning the rules of a competitive card game a little too well, and your friendships are suffering accordingly. Perhaps you’ve convinced someone to play twister with you..?

Shiver Me Timbers

You are aboard the PNV Vexation, a first-rate ship accompanied by several escort vessels currently halfway through a voyage across the Sunsea of Yarra, AKA #59352110. The cargo she carries is of utmost importance, and must reach the Shining Port intact.

The pirates who sail the Sunsea have other plans.

Team One

The Vexation has several sloops in tow - the best of which are the Gemstone Heart, the Fallen Lord and the Duckling. Team One is split across the three sloops, and can use their greater speed to good effect in boarding actions. Your job is simple - sink every unmarked ship that approaches the Vexation. The captains are cooperative and daring, and happy to lend out boarding axes and pistols. The pirates are less happy.

Team Two

Back aboard the Vexation, it seems that either the crew are playing tricks, or something more sinister is going on - whispers of spirits roaming the deck at night, strange screams or whimpers in the hold. Lights off the starboard bow. The day holds no such terrors, and shipboard life is mostly ropes, deckwork and stints on the masts, but as the mission continues, the crew are getting more and more restless… Team Two needs to figure out the source of these strange events, before they incite the crew to mutiny.

Team Three

Unbeknownst to the crew, on the second day of the mission, the precious cargo is loaded onto the fourth and fastest of the Vexation’s escorts, the Sun’s Edge, and sent ahead, while the fleet remains as as a decoy. Team Three are sent aboard the Edge to crew the ship and keep the treasure - something sealed in a large, padded steel pyramid - safe. The pirates don’t notice the deception, but the sea serpents definitely do, and with just one serpent able to wrap its entire length around the Edge, the third day is a harrowing one.

Comments

[its_dad_sanzo]

[ That's precious. ]

Next time, we should use the gym car! The ceiling's higher, and you really needn't worry about my landing poorly... I could do a back-flip right now, from one foot, and land on one hand!

[ It's not even bragging. A fully-trained Sanzo priest was an extremely well-oiled machine, no matter how much he likes to whine whenever he gets cold. ]

[subcircuits]

[That's quite a claim, but after dancing with the man? Devero doesn't doubt it.] Brilliant! Honestly, I'd love to see more of what you can do. [Remembering the question that Sanzo had asked him before--] You must be a martial artist.

[its_dad_sanzo]

To put it lightly.

[ Koumyou laughs, and only now tries to take his hands back. He doesn't try very hard, but still. ]

I protect one fifth of that which was used to create all of existence. In fact, I used to protect two fifths, until very recently.

And despite what some monks seem to believe, one doesn't protect such items with stern lectures and wagging fingers.

[ Koumyou? Koumyou's absolutely fucking lethal. ]

[subcircuits]

[--Oh! Oh, right. Devero releases his hands and takes a step back to listen.

What he's hearing is outside of his realm of experience, to put it lightly, and he's not entirely sure how to respond. He suddenly feels very small.]

That... that must be an incredible responsibility. I can't even imagine...

[its_dad_sanzo]

Oh, I wasn't saying it to brag, or to complain!

[ Koumyou waves a hand dismissively, like shooing away smoke. And then he tucks both his hands into his opposite sleeves, pleased to have proper sleeves with which to do this again. The train-issued hoodie had not sat with him particularly well. ]

...Well, I do love to complain, [ he adds, a touch conspiratorially, ] just not about this! But no, what I meant is that I am definitely a martial artist.

[ Possibly the best his world's ever seen. Sanzos are such an exclusive group to begin with, with only a maximum of five alive at any given time -- one for each sutra. But Koumyou? He'd successfully done double-duty, after Tenkai had died and his Maten sutra had joined Koumyou's Seiten sutra, draped over his thin shouders. ]

[subcircuits]

[Devero shakes his head and holds up his hands, palms out.] Those who choose to bear a heavy burden for the good of the world deserve the world's respect and support. [Which means they can complain as they please, as far as Dev's concerned. But boy, that sure sounds like a rote recitation, doesn't it? But he says it sincerely, for as practiced as the words are.

--And frowns a little as something occurs to him. He's been learning some ugly things about worlds other than his, ugly things tossed around as casual, normal, expected.]

Did-- did you get to choose...?

[its_dad_sanzo]

I don't think one could become a Sanzo against their will.

[ He hopes, anyway. He really hopes he hadn't done that to his precious son in the last few seconds of his own life. Had Kouryuu been willing to take on the burden? Had he--

Koumyou's usually-serene expression looks a bit distressed for a second there, until he gets control over his own spiraling thoughts. No. He's not going to think about this right now. ]

...At least... I hope not. The weight of that karma would crush someone not willing or ready to shoulder it.

[subcircuits]

[Devero doesn't miss that distress, particularly notable compared to how open and pleasant Sanzo's been this entire time. He reaches out, resting a hand against the other man's arm, and says gently;] Then let us assume that everyone who does, does so willingly.

[Tangent time!] Is Sanzo a title, then, rather than a name?

[its_dad_sanzo]

[ Oh good, distraction. Koumyou will take it. He pulls one hand out of his sleeves to place his fingers against the ceremonial bamboo breastplate over his chest. ]

Toua Koumyou Sanzō Hoshi-sama, the 30th of Shangri-La.

[ It's a lot. ]

Koumyou Sanzo is the short version. 'Sanzo' is my rank, we are the ones entrusted with the duty I described. 'Koumyou' is my homyo, or holy name. It would be inappropriate to use it on its own.

[subcircuits]

[Yep, that's a lot. But as Devero realizes that Sanzo's full name and title is going to be a whopper, he makes a subtle gesture and clips the audio out of the short-term buffer stored in his Interface. He saves that to his cl-- to the device's internal storage for later review.]

Ah, I understand. Thank you for the correction earlier, then! Do you prefer Koumyou Sanzo, or is just Sanzo all right?

[Respecting identities: a big thing, where he comes from!]

[its_dad_sanzo]

Either one is fine!

[ 'Sanzo' is simpler, easier. 'Koumyou Sanzo' perhaps takes a little more effort. But he really doesn't mind either version.

He tucks his hand back into his opposite sleeve. ]

And what about you? Tell me something about you -- this has been pretty lopsided!

[subcircuits]

Oh, there's not much to say about me. [He laughs, a touch uncomfortably.] I'm no one special.

[He's been learning that his usual demurral doesn't quite apply here, though. He may think he's no one special where he comes from, but so far it seems like he's the only person from his particular reality on the train. Perforce, that makes him special-- or at least, unique.]

I suspect the world I come from is rather different than yours. Unless the phrase "full combat grade neural-tactile innervate Implant" means anything to you?

[its_dad_sanzo]

That sure is a lot of words!

[ And Koumyou laughs, because he knows that's an answer. Devero may as well just slipped into a language the train didn't know how to translate. ]

It sounds science-y. Is it science-y?

[subcircuits]

[Devero laughs too, good-natured and unsurprised by the incomprehension.] Yes. Very science-y.

Does saying "I'm a cyborg" make it any easier?

[its_dad_sanzo]

[ Gasp! ]

A real cyborg?! Like in the movies?!

[subcircuits]

That, I couldn't say. I'd have to see one of your movies first.

[its_dad_sanzo]

Oh! They have a whole car for watching movies here!

[ And here comes Koumyou, reaching to grab his hand again. Time for more dragging around the train? Probably. ]

I'd never gotten to see any of them, before. Electricity isn't everywhere in Shangri-La, and there's even less chance of it in the temples.

[ So televisions were a rarity, for a priest from Shangri-La. ]

[subcircuits]

[Devero seems perfectly willing to be dragged around by his new buddy. What else is he going to do? It's not like he has any of his usual duties to attend do. So he's happy to let Sanzo lead the way.]

Oh, that's a shame! No one is electricity-poor where I come from, though I understand it was very common Before.

[its_dad_sanzo]

Before?

[ And Koumyou's just going to lead him through the various cars by the hand. Probably, no one will even notice. Koumyou Sanzo's doing something unexpected again? Just be glad it wasn't to them.

This time. ]

Things like electricity and appliances and iron vehicles... I'm told that's all a lot more common in the other lands. Something about Shangri-La just doesn't play nicely with technology.

[subcircuits]

Before the Pathogen. [He says it quick and casual, as if he'd like to just skim past this particular element of his reality.

Let's talk about Shangri-La instead!] How fascinating. I wonder why that is? I know there are distortion zones in my world, but they're usually-- [Ah hell, what was that about avoiding talking about this part of his world?] --ruins. There's too much interference because of all the metal.

[its_dad_sanzo]

Something about spiritual magic being incompatible, the concentration of youkai in Shangri-La being incompatible, and something something... I don't know.

[ Koumyou had only ever paid so much attention, as a student. He made up for it in raw talent, but... ]

I honestly may have slept through that lecture.

[subcircuits]

[He laughs, covering it with a hand.] That's fair. Magic, though! There's no magic where I come from.

Can you do magic?

[its_dad_sanzo]

Technology seems to be a more common thread between worlds than magic.

[ As for the question, Koumyou holds his free hand out and to the side as they walk, palm up. A golfball-sized orb of electricity appears there, floating and crackling above his fingers. ]

For me, it's chi manipulation. Everyone who can do magic here seems to do things very differently from one another.

[subcircuits]

That's honestly kind of relieving. Magic is absolutely beyond me.

[Devero's eyes go wide as Sanzo manifests what appears to be a tiny ball of lightning over his palm. He bends down to peer at it as they walk.] That's incredible! What can you do with it?

[its_dad_sanzo]

Most things I've tried! Attack, defense, wards, illusion, breaking other people's wards and illusions, paralysis, ah, I can do this really cool move where I turn stuff into dragons.

[ Koumyou counts them off on the fingers under the ball of lightning, starting over as needed. ]

One time when I was in training, I built a big buff snowman to shield everyone from an avalanche! Though I had to use everyone else as a battery to do that. One body only produces so much chi at any given moment.