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]

Should we, though?

[ If the highest-ranking priest in all of Buddhism is supposed to be a good influence, no one's told Koumyou that.

For now, he just plucks the sutra from his shoulders and tucks it into one of his billowing sleeves. The breastplate comes off over his head next, vanishing into his Arms Band with a brief pop of golden light.

Then he's busy shrugging out of the top of his robes, letting the heavy silk hang down off his waist to dry. ]

...Hey, are those wires, too?

[ Complete with a curious finger-poke at some of Devero's circuitry tattoos. ]

[subcircuits]

[Bafflement.] Yes? We broke it. [Technically you broke it, pal, but Dev still considers himself culpable. He's like that.

He straightens up, watching-- oh, hello soldier. Devero is a man who very much appreciates a trained physique when he sees one, and he appreciates what he's seeing right now as Sanzo partially disrobes. He tries not to stare too obviously, because that's rude, but damn.

He's shaking out his bundle of clothes when he gets poked, and jumps a little.] Wha-- oh! [A laugh.] No, those are just tattoos. My Implant looks a lot different from my ink.

[its_dad_sanzo]

[ The fact that the skin-tight... leather? that can't be leather, it's too form-fitting ...whatever it is, is wet, probably doesn't help matters any, either. Got a little extra shine to it. A little shimmer, over every sleek muscle.

Sanzo robes have layers, just like the priests. ]

Tattoos, huh?

[ But that jump amuses Koumyou, so he pokes again. ]

Did you get them because you like technology so much?

[subcircuits]

[It is a lot harder not to stare at him up close, especially given that there's even more to see from this distance. He's tempted by that leather, so shining and sleek. As a matter of fact, he knows how fine and well-worked leather has to be to hold that tightly to the body wearing it. He would know.

This time when he flinches it's from embarrassment more than surprise. Don't stare!]

--Y-yes. Er-- a lot of hiteks get circuits inked up somewhere. Where I come from, if you see somebody with circuit-work like this, it's a safe bet they've got an extensive Implant of some kind hiding under their skin.

[its_dad_sanzo]

You're so jumpy!

[ Koumyou laughs, and goes to sneakily poke at a line over a rib, next. ]

Is it because you think we're going to get in trouble?

[subcircuits]

S-sorry--

[There is no way he's going to tell the other man it's because of his proximity. The poke in the rib elicits a choked sound of protest, and he slides hurriedly away and out from the wall, putting a couple of paces between them.]

Will we? We wouldn't at home, but I-- I don't know what to expect, here.

[its_dad_sanzo]

Are you running away?

[ Koumyou is horribly amused, considering all the shit they've gotten up to before now.

And so he just trots after him, one hand poised for more tattoo-poking. ]

I don't think there'll be trouble, no. Besides, I set the fire and broke the sprinkler. If anyone wants to yell at me about it, I'll just ignore them!

[ He really would, too. ]

[subcircuits]

No! [Yes.

He holds his scorched hoodie-and-shirt up in front of his torso like a shield, continuing to back off.]

But-- but we both-- [Ah but Dev, you're not home. He doesn't understand how this place works yet, but he's seen enough to know it's not the way he's used to. The man pauses, and makes a conscious decision to drop it. The ruined clothes droop in his hands as he releases a deep breath.] --You'd know better than I would. All right.

[its_dad_sanzo]

Are you ticklish?

[ Just gonna... just gonna... get closer and-- poke! Over the top of Devero's drooping clothes in his hands. ]

Even if anyone here had any authority, I barely even answer to the gods themselves! It could certainly be amusing if they tried.

[subcircuits]

I guess you really don't have much to worry about, do y--

[Dropping the garments from one hands, he snatches to catch Sanzo's hand as the man goes in for another poke. Flustered, and from a world with far fewer social taboos against sex and sexuality, he just blurts it out:] You're very attractive!

[And he's holding Sanzo's hand again. He releases it and backs off, face flushing up red with mortification that it came out this way.]

[its_dad_sanzo]

[ Koumyou just leaves his hand hovering in the air after it's released, blinking. ]

Ah... what?

[ Give him a second, here. Just one, and then he covers his mouth with his hand. ]

That's so flattering!

[subcircuits]

[Okay. Okay, that's not the worst reaction in the world. Breathe, Devero. He gathers his shirt and hoodie up against his chest and smiles sheepishly.] I'm hope that's not too inappropriate to say to someone of your station?

[its_dad_sanzo]

That really depends on who you ask!

[ Koumyou shifts his hand from over his mouth, to his cheek, eyes all but sparkling with the flattery of it all.

He definitely doesn't look or sound offended. Gleeful, maybe. ]

[subcircuits]

[It's easy enough to see that whatever people from his world might think, Sanzo himself isn't taking Devero's confession badly. He relaxes a little more.]

As long as you don't mind, that's what matters. I'd hate to offend unintentionally.

[But he didn't and that means it's time! to! change the subject!! He turns away and looks at his garments again. He sighs.] Sure wish I'd known you could do that with the water before I ruined my clothes.

[its_dad_sanzo]

[ A lot of people from Koumyou's world also didn't think he should smoke, or drink, or eat meat. Sanzo priests tended to ignore all protest and do whatever the hell they wanted.

They outranked everyone else anyway. ]

Did they get ruined?

[ For his part, Koumyou goes over to one of the plant beds, and brings his braid forward over his shoulder to start wringing it out into the soil. May as well, right? Whatever's growing here doesn't look like a cactus. ]

I'm sure there's a way to replace or fix them... half the train needed emergency healing at the end of our last mission, and you can only imagine what everyone's clothing looked like.

[subcircuits]

[Devero stays where he's standing, and breathes a little easier as Sanzo leaves his immediate vicinity. The other man's question prompts a thoughtful sound, and he peels the two garments apart.

His shirt, which had ended up on the outside when he'd disrobed, is definitely ruined. The fabric is scorched almost all the way through on one side, and actually pulls apart in his hands. He grimaces.] Well, that sure did.

[The hoodie is in better shape, at least. Still damaged, but intact and therefore salvageable. He slings it over his shoulder and turns to look at Sanzo.

His expression is solemn.] I've heard some talk about that. Sounds like clothes were the least of everyone's worries.

[its_dad_sanzo]

Probably.

[ The priest hadn't encountered anything that could do more than mildly wound him, but that was to be expected. If things grew troublesome enough, and someone else was at risk of waking up in the luggage car if he didn't do anything about it, there was always the Seiten sutra.

He undoes the cloth belt at his hips, and pulls the robe off entirely to start wringing it out over the plants, too. It's a lot of heavy fabric to try to twist, so it really gets the muscles in his back and his arms involved.

And unfortunately for Devero's sanity, the jeans he wore under those robes are almost as tight as the rest. ]

My point being, if we're expected to get into that kind of trouble, then I doubt the train's going to let anyone run out of clothes to do it in.

CW: relationship abuse

[subcircuits]

[Oh, take mercy on him, Sanzo looks just as good from the back as from the front. And with his back turned, there's not as much pressure not to stare. Which Devero does. He can't seem to help himself, especially not when there are such fine, lean muscles working under pale skin, and tight jeans, and-- he just looks so good.

For an instant, he indulges in a fantasy of closing up the space between them and taking that whipcord body in his arms, of stealing tobacco-flavored kisses, of that long blond braid slithering against his skin, of-- of--

Of what Madame would say, if he strayed. He had Rules.

The timely reminder from his frontal cortex is as sobering to his libido as a dousing of ice water. He whirls away from Sanzo with a gasp, covering his mouth with a hand as nausea rises from the pit of his stomach. What was he thinking?

He presses his tongue hard to the roof of his mouth and breathes through his nose, in-out in-out, and forces himself to straighten up.]

Mn. Like I-- like I said, you would know better than I. Even if that's not the case, I still have the rest of my basic reqs. I can make do.

[There, that probably came out mostly normal!]

[its_dad_sanzo]

[ Koumyou glances back over his shoulder after that gasp, the sudden movement, the strange shift in posture following it.

He hasn't known Devero for longer than a few hours, but someone with a fraction of the priest's observational skills would know something was wrong. It was there in his voice, too. ]

Well...

[ Koumyou does him the courtesy of not asking about it, and turns back to his robe-wringing. ]

...I've heard a rumor that there's a giant spider on board who will make clothing for people in exchange for some candy. You should have just enough points for that, if you decide you want something that didn't come in the backpack.

[subcircuits]

[Thank goodness, thank dutifulness, thank cooperation, thank all the virtues-- either Sanzo hasn't noticed something's wrong or he's politely ignoring it. Devero's able to pull himself together more as the other man talks, swallowing bile and forcing his taut shoulders to relax.

He hasn't strayed. He won't stray. Madame will find no fault in his behavior when he-- if he--

Distraction time.] A giant spider? Really? A sapient one?

[its_dad_sanzo]

That's what I'm told.

[ Koumyou hasn't met her, yet. It's a very big train. ]

I've wondered if she might be like the youkai of my world. They can take shapes like that, sometimes.

[subcircuits]

[Devero finds the nearest bench and sits on it, the cool stone further grounding him. When he looks at Sanzo, it's over his shoulder or past his hip, a little avoidant now. That could just be embarrassment, couldn't it?

He cocks his head and seizes on the unfamiliar word.] Youkai?

[its_dad_sanzo]

[ Koumyou seems rather busy with his robes, anyway, twisting them the other way now to get the last of the water out that he can.

No, he hadn't been under the spray of water for long, but it's a lot of fabric and it can be really annoying. ]

Demons.

[ Now he's shaking the robe out, flapping it in the aisle to watch how it moves with a critical eye. ]

They're just another species of people, like you or I, but magic comes much more naturally to them. Shape-shifting isn't a rare ability for their kind.

[subcircuits]

[Hey, that's a word Devero recognizes! And he almost, sort of reflexively, opens his mouth to make a crack about "religious stuff". Good think Sanzo continues immediately, saving Dev from that bit of dickery.

He actually sits up on the bench, interested for interest's sake, now, instead of just to distract himself.] So there are two sapient species where you come from? Humanoid ones, that is?

[Elephants and orca whales don't count.]

[its_dad_sanzo]

Yes.

[ Koumyou gives the robe a whirl through the air, pulling it in in one smooth motion to drape it over his own shoulders again, not bothering to put his arms through the sleeves yet. He reaches up to tug his braid free, at least. ]

Some say they're inherently unholy, but I've never been certain of that. One of my fellow Sanzos was a youkai, and his predecessor before him. In fact, before I ended up in charge of it, I believe every bearer of the Maten sutra was a youkai... probably.