Test Drive Meme 019

[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!

Winter Wonderland

Experienced Voidtreckers will be the first to recognise when the announcement of a stop comes over the speakers: “Arriving at world 9126110 in ten, nine, eight…”

The doors don’t open, the train doesn’t stop. Instead, it slows, and the garden carriage opens its curved, clear roof as though it were a convertible, both sides folding back until the carriage is open to the air. The world is a picture of snow-covered mountains and sparse conifers, and within minutes the garden’s fountain and streams have iced over, soft snow coating the cobbles and benches.

The stop lasts all day, the vending machines dispense free hot chocolate, and the dressing carriage is filled with thick coats, wooly hats, and warm gloves.

Void Santa Is Coming To Town

It’s a day like any other, except that the morning announcement has a rider.

“There are packages in the luggage car for all passengers. Enjoy. ”

And indeed, it seems that something has visited during the night - the carriage at the back of the train is unusually neat, the piles of empty luggage stacked carefully near the back to make room for a huge array of wrapped objects. Void Santa, maybe? The difference between Void Santa and, say, one of the many Earth Santas or the Gyueran Spirit of Generosity, is that Void Santa doesn’t give you what you asked for.

It gives you something you wouldn’t have dared to ask for. That nerdy figurine that you eyed in the window of the store, the dress you weren’t brave enough to try on, the device you decided was too expensive. The poster of your favourite holostar, the latest risque novel from the local printworks… the list goes on.

You’ve got a present in here, better find it before someone else does!

Animal at Heart

Seibairen, world #671155003, is a world of dualities. Technologically advanced but also deeply mystical, its population is currently suffering under the rule of a nameless arcanist, a genius of artificial intelligence and magecraft who seeks to elevate her own mechanical brethren above their biological creators. Unfortunately, she is far too powerful to face directly.

Team One

The arcanist holding the world of Seibairen in thrall is particularly skilled with polymorph spells, and her first move as the Voidtreckers enter the conflict is to cast one over a wide area, transforming almost half of the force into various animals. The spell seems to be mildly incompatible with void-travellers, as those affected have turned into creatures from their homeworlds, if possible, rather than the local wildlife. The fight is still on, no time to panic!

… Or maybe some time to panic, it’s looking permanent for now. Still, the civilians need the Voidtreckers’ protection, animal or not, and it isn’t like they’ve lost any of their abilities.

Team Two

The monks of the deep peaks, trained in anti-magic combat and able to counter the arcanist and her forces, are the best hope for turning the tides. Unfortunately, their remote stronghold is blockaded the moment the Voidtreckers arrive, trapping them under a shield of pale metal and harsh light. There are several ways they and the unlucky early Voidtreckers might be freed: the power sources of the barrier, held in the centre of the arcanist’s camps, could be destroyed or sabotaged. Alternatively, the barrier could be overloaded or even broken from the inside by an ancient artefact held within the inner temple. The monks are able to guide the Voidtreckers through a telepathic metaconcert, but hurry, time is running out...

Team Three

A thaumatologist somewhere within the capital is rumoured to be able to reverse the arcanist’s strange spells, which would give the Voidtreckers a fighting chance against her directly. Several different people are claiming to be this thaumatologist, and they all have a list of ingredients they’ll need for the protective ritual and/or devices they’re offering.

At least one of them is sure to work, but there’s going to be some experimenting before that happens. Alternatively, force would find the correct researcher fairly quickly, but it would also attract attention.

Comments

listen why did you think i'd tag this asshole in the first place if not for this madness

[firewalled]

Oh fuck. Oh fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck he was just like a SQUIP, wasn't he? The mention of plastic surgery was bad enough, but trying to get him to let this asshole take him over was too much.

"No! I've done this fucking song and dance before and I'm not letting another one of you fuckers get in my head! F-Fucking back off!"

He tries to make himself look more intimidating than he can with his height and with his panic mounting extremely quickly. This is bad. Is there an escape route, or is this guy gonna come track him down?

OKAY GOOD

[gentle_jim]

[Haha, wow- he hadn't expected that much of a reaction- maybe spooking the kid a little, but this? This was rich.]

"Done it before, huh? Where's your port then? Come on, show Uncle Jack~" [He purred, advancing on him with an arm out-stretched.]

[firewalled]

I'm not showing you anything!

[Rich shrieks, one hand back up to cover his neck as he continues to try to scramble away. He stumbles as his foot catches on a package, and he hits the ground with a painful bang.

There doesn't seem to be a port that Jack would be used to, but there are a trail of nasty scars leading from a spot just behind his ear.]

[gentle_jim]

[Jack laughs as the kid tries to run and fails, bending down over him with an amused grin. Cold fingers grip his chin, keeping his head turned so Jack can inspect his temple. There's nothing there however -- just some freaky scars going down from behind his ear.]

"Whoever did your surgery really botched it! Yikes. Looks like someone tried to barbeque your stupid head."

[He's not too disappointed really; even if the kid had a port it would have probably only been to an Echo Eye, considering he didn't see any other cybernetic enhancements on him. And having an entire robot body was much better than hitchhiking in this little dumbass's eye.]

"Had a bad experience, huh kid? That sucks. But that's life. You'll get used to it." [laughs and lets go of his chin, straightening up.]

[firewalled]

[Rich's breath comes in quick, panicked gasps as he still tries to scramble away. Fingers scrabble for purchase on the floor and, when that fails, reach to grip Jack's robotic arm, trying to force it away. He's still unfortunately left pinned until Jack finally lets go, though, and he nearly jumps back up to his feet.]

It's not just life! [Panic makes way for fury, Rich's fists clenched hard enough for him to ignore the tightness in his chest and the ringing in his ears.] It was what made life worse for me! I could have lived normally without that bitch in my head! Y-You're just like her if you think I can just get over that!

yes let the hate flow through you

[gentle_jim]

[Oho, what a little firecracker! He'd honestly expected the kid to turn tail and run off crying after that. Jack listens with a tiny smirk, up until the last part, which makes his lip curl up slightly.]

"First off- gotta give you credit for havin' the balls to yell at me." [He says, lifting a finger.]

"Second. You're an idiot if you think you could have lived your whole life without gettin' stabbed in the back by someone. So grow up. Get revenge or whatever the hell you need to do and be smarter next time."

[He folds his arms, digital blue eyes tracking to the burn scars.] "And keep that shit covered up- its ugly."

Gonna keep this going if it's game canon c: these two clearly have much to discuss

[firewalled]

A fucking mime would have the balls to yell at you. Your dick is floppier than your disk drive.

[His nose wrinkles and his eyes scrunch up with anger, pulling that scar tighter over his skin.]

It's a little different when she was supposed to prevent me from getting stabbed in the back. I don't know what your fucking problem is, but you're sure as hell not so smart that I'd accept your advice.

[He flinches a bit at the comment, though, moving one hand to cover his more burned arm.] There's nothing wrong with showing these off, either. They're a reminder.

Ohhh yes

[gentle_jim]

Ohhh, clearly you do not know me, kid. You do not know me at all. [His voice has gained a growl to it that occasionally distorts like a computer sound file with a glitch.]

You know, you would think that, wouldn't you? Being a naive dumbass. But guess what? The people who are supposed to protect you? Be your friends? Those are the ones themost likely to stick a knife between your shoulders. Sooner you get that, the sooner you'll be able to protect yourself.

[He just laughs at the last part.] Of what? How stupid you are?

[firewalled]

I know you're not worth my fucking time! [Rich hates that sound. He's very used to hearing it in his own head, and with Jack saying such manipulative things, it only makes the pounding in his skull that much worse.]

It doesn't fucking matter, though. I know I'm not going to end up with any friends. Not after this.

[He still seems to be referring to his scars, though he doesn't bother to answer the question.]

So it doesn't matter if you try to 'help' me or possess me or whatever. You aren't gonna get anything from using me.

[gentle_jim]

Friends are bullshit anyway. You're better off without 'em. [Is Jack's expert opinion, being someone who has had very few friends and lost most of them.]

Ah, duh. I'd have to be real hard up for a flesh body before I took yours, pumpkin. Wouldn't mind some muscles like that though, damn.

I'm not sorry for telling you how things are though. Not my fault you can't handle it.

cw suicide mention

[firewalled]

Don't know about that when I was ready to kill myself just to have one.

[Sure, it seems so cliche and typical now, but when Rich was younger... all he had wanted was for someone to look him in the eye and bring just a little bit of brightness to his life.

And then a monster like Jack just took advantage of that.

He rubs at one of his arms absently, feeling a slight bump from the stretch marks still left over, and shakes his head.]

We're clearly not on the same page at all. I think I'm done with your valuable life lessons. Especially when people have told me things don't work like that anymore.

[He'll be more inclined to believe them... it gives him at least some hope. So he stands up and starts heading for the door. He's just tired of this conversation.]