voidtreckerooc | Test Drive Meme 019

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[...He looks... happy? By something so simple? Maybe it's that he thinks she's being silly. And to be fair, Olivia is little more than silly. She couldn't even fault him if that's what it is.

Not that it stops her from turning a few shades of pink. (Eventually, she'll just blush the full range of the rainbow because that's how it always seems to go.)

When he introduces himself, she nods, unable to help thinking that he's so polite. It's a little like Chrom, really. Nobility of some kind? She definitely wouldn't delivery an apology that elegantly.]

O-Olivia. [She replies, smile still hooked into her features as she nervously shifts her weight between her feet. Her hands fidget into the shawl, thinking it a great way of keeping her nervous tics somewhat inconspicuous.] And you said Lan... Siz...hui? Right? [Her pronunciation is perhaps a little off, but she's doing her best!]

[this poor girl, blushing so furiously that at some point, it's likely she won't even need a coat to keep her warm! sizhui's unsure how he should help her feel less embarrassed since he doesn't honestly know how not to be nice but, for whatever it's worth, he'll do his absolute best with not voicing his worry aloud.

introductions seem distracting enough, so his attention will focus there instead, head bowing the slightest bit lower before he straightens up to answer.]

That's correct, [sizhui assures, his own pleased expression holding steady. her fidgeting does briefly draw his attention, though he pays it no real mind. (or won't linger, at least—) his turn to make certain he can say it properly,] And yours is ‘Olivia.’ [pause] Yes?

[She fidgets. He notes it. Olivia fights not to fidget even more, which is a struggle for someone who seems to fidget nearly all of the time, regardless of how well she knows someone or doesn't.

Lifting her hands, she toys with some of the pink hair that falls over her shoulders. Maybe that's not as distracting. (But probably not.)]

Yes! [Nothing special. Just an Olivia.] S-sorry. I'm not real good with people. Or... much of anything, really. [Bashfully, she smiles.] If that doesn't bother you, maybe... y-you could tell me a little about where you're from? O-or yourself.

[Is that nosy of her? It's probably nosy of her.]

[being fair, the only reason he's distracted by her fidgeting at that point is because she has pink hair. he's never seen someone with such a brilliant color before! white, blue, red; he's experienced all those on the train already but pink? that's a new one and he's enthralled.

(let's just nevermind the fact he's met a duck and they get clothes from an oversized spider, both of who speak!)

his head shakes dismissively, though not impolitely.] You have no reason to apologize, miss Olivia. Some people are more sociable than others and there's nothing wrong with that! [a moment's hesitation before he tacks on,] Surely there's something you're good at? Everybody has a talent, after all.

It doesn't bother me, though. [nosy or not, if it's what she wants, he will provide.] I come from Earth, ancient China to be precise. A world where magic flourishes and we, as ‘cultivators,’ use this to fight evil.

[He's very... understanding. It's a surprise, but a pleasant one, all things considered. He barely knows her and yet he doesn't really judge her in the slightest.

She retains that bashful, sheepish curl of the mouth and she shrugs rather nonchalantly.]

O-oh. I don't need a talent, really...

[Dancing. Baking. Simply being a good person. Olivia has a surprising arsenal of skills. She just doesn't consider them... much of anything.]

I've... never heard of your world before. But you're familiar with magic? [She lights right up at that.] I don't use magic myself, but the people I travelled with do! Some, anyway.

[he tries to be! sizhui's always been quite the open-minded disciple, never truly seeing just black and white and understanding there is (and likely always will be) a gray area.

maybe she doesn't need a talent in her opinion, but he does wonder what she can do anyhow.] Perhaps not, though I'm willing to bet you're good at something.

[any one of those is good, especially the last one. there aren't a whole lot of completely genuine people.]

Understandable, and yes, I am. [seeing her brighten makes him do the same, a pleased smile curving his mouth as he inquires,] What kind of magic did they use? Oh, if it's okay to ask, why were you all traveling? [wasn't sizhui supposed to be talking about himself? guess he's failed there so far.]

[Olivia nibbles on her lower lip, giving herself something to do that isn't refusing his kindness or his compliments. She is thankful not long after, the moment he asks about the magic and Ylisse in general.]

All different kinds, really. Elemental? Mages are common there, so they study arcane magic. And there's healing magic, too. So... clerics and priests.

[Her hands fold together thoughtfully before she continues and after some consideration, she quiets.]

Uhm. There was a war. Is. [Because the war is still going on, according to Olivia's knowledge.] So I was travelling with soldiers. Mercenaries. A prince and a princess. Their knights.

[hopefully, whatever he's said, it doesn't make her too uncomfortable or anything! he's only being polite, but also knows well how some people react to things like compliments.]

Oh, fascinating! [as if he's never experienced magic in his life, gosh.] People from your world specialize in one particular thing? [it isn't all that surprising, taking his own abilities into account, but it's still interesting to consider how one might be better at fire rather than water.

at the mention of war, however, he softens as well.]

I see... I'm sorry if talking about it bothers you, that wasn't my intention. [a beat, his curiosity momentarily returning.] Sounds like you all had quite a sizable group.

[She shakes her head at him. It's sweet of him to worry and it sounds a little like something she'd say, too.]

Nono. It's o-okay. [Talking about it, not talking about it... Neither of these things stop the war from occurring or change anything going on back home. Awkwardly she fidgets before she continues.] It doesn't bother me at all. I don't know a lot about war. I'm not much of a soldier myself. I'm actually a d-dancer, but I'm not very good at that either.

[She frowns and tipping her head, she decides not to linger on it for too long.] The Shepherds were pretty large in size. A lot of people. But really kind people. I guess I m-miss them a bit. We probably all have people like that though...

[‘neither of those things stops the war from happening’ is a too true statement. regardless of who's pretending nothing is going on and others talking more freely about it, it's happening, nevertheless.

sizhui nods understandingly while olivia continues talking, hands clasped together in front of himself, widened eyes focused solely on her. a dancer, huh?] What kind of dancing do you do? The only kind I really know is fan-dancing, which is quite beautiful in its own right. [and it's actually something he's considered trying out himself, but where to find a teacher?

best that they do not dawdle, yes, even though sizhui's still inwardly adamant about insisting she's likely great at her trade.] I'd imagine we do. Hopefully, some of the people you know will show up. Which, ah, is a somewhat terrible thing to wish for, but...

[olivia deserves some friends she knows, too!]

Test Drive Meme 019

Winter Wonderland

Void Santa Is Coming To Town

Animal at Heart

Team One

Team Two

Team Three

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apologies for slowness!! last week was the longest year

No, no. Take your time. No worries at all.

bless..... 😔 thanks very much

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I'm super late in touching this (and I know it'd TDM), but I just liked them so much.

omg never apologize!!! i'm so glad you were enjoying them as much as i was! or am?? either way WEH