Test Drive Meme 021

[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!

Spring Cleaning

Chores aren’t for everyone. And, as the morning reaches a close, it turns out that they are especially not for wizards.

That is to say, someone may have cast a spell animating all of the mops, brooms and dishcloths on-board, which are now sweeping their way up and down the carriages, cleaning everything - and everyone - they can reach. And animating anything else they can find, for maximum efficiency. Books, clothing, cutlery-

This isn’t so bad in the bathrooms. In the library, however? The armory? Bang, and the dirt is gone.

Open Mic

The ground floor of the music carriage is usually a mess of instruments, but tonight they’ve all been tucked away neatly at one end of the room. Chairs from the upper floor have been carried down en masse, all facing towards the jukeboxes and screens at the other end.

You might not be entirely sure who rigged them for karaoke, but you know one thing: you’re here now, a drink in one hand and a list of popular (by someone’s standards) songs in the other. If people aren’t singing or waiting to sing, they’re cheering friends on, or skulking and trying everything in their power not to be called up, or even escaping upstairs to talk more comfortably.

’Til Death Do Us Part

The world of Abarranz is ruled by the Undying Lords, and has been for almost two thousand years. The civilisation has stagnated - not only due to the immortal council, but also because the majority of its citizens are undead. Some, the rich, the powerful, are able to undergo great rituals to maintain their consciousness and skill even in death; others are unfortunate enough to be dragged into death with neither, and exist as shells of themselves. The greatest necromancers of the planet are harnessing the death of a minor star in the system to fuel a mass conversion of the remaining populace, but the remaining living citizens are those who have already refused the change. Voidtreckers, they cannot resist alone.

Team One

Pockets of the living survive in hiding, but are split off from one another and unable to unify under the overwhelming forces surrounding their enclaves. This first team is tasked with clearing the mindless hordes threatening them, so that they might establish communications, venture out, and join the fight.

Team Two

The best way to escape the ritual is to remove the remaining living to another colony in the system - but the rituals and spells able to do so are all jealously guarded by the eternal council in their libraries and vaults. A viable target has been identified - the treasure rooms of the Viscount Eldermann holds a tome rumoured to contain a mass teleportation ritual. Infiltrating and securing this tome is this team’s task, and while the mission is possible, the traps and guards won’t make it easy.

Team Three

Even with these plans in motion, every second counts. This third team is given the role of saboteur - to interrupt, delay or otherwise slow the Grand Ritual of a Star’s Demise from within the stronghold of the Undying Lords. The dressing carriage - and their SCA wristbands - are at their disposal, the former for appropriate Abarranz costume and pallor, the latter to hide the telltale signs of life, should they have any.

Comments

jiang cheng ( the untamed )

[fennu]

GYM.

[ Smack. Smack. Smack.

It's not that Jiang Cheng is angry - that's often the case, more often than he'd ever be willing to admit, but reputation does proceed him in some cases - but he is frustrated, and the best way to take out one's frustration when there aren't any creatures of the night to battle is punching. Even if the carriage is quite small and even if he is particularly aware of other people being around him, he keeps going.

Being frustrated isn't a particularly good look for him, and getting it out of his system would be better, sooner rather than later. Even if his knuckles are starting to ache and his cheeks are flushed pink with his own irritation and vague upset. ]

OPEN MIC.

[ Everyone else might be having fun, singing and drinking and enjoying whatever celebration seems to be taking place here, but Jiang Cheng is having none of it.

He can drink, and he could probably sing if he was inclined, but he has no desire to engage in whatever nonsense is happening. He's tired, he's still on edge from being here in the first place, from all the new things that he's trying to learn about - and singing is the last thing he wants to do. He would rather be back training, or resting, or reading. Anything but in the middle of a celebration, anything but watching people enjoy themselves when he feels nothing short of sour and irritated.

He has to be careful not to break the glass in his hand, huffing a frustrated noise as he leans forward to put it down. Only then does he lean back on the wall, arms crossed and face twisted sourly. ]

TILL DEATH - TEAM ONE.

[ This is something more in tune with what Jiang Cheng knows, and he is prepared to throw himself into it without much hesitation.

He's able to cut down many of the hoard with practiced ease; it's clear that he's used to fighting with a sword, that he's dangerous with the weapon. It's almost easy for him to twist and turn, lurching to take down whatever comes near him - and also moving forward with an easy grace to protect anyone else who might be at risk.

It's probably the first time anyone's seen him being nice. ]

open mic;

[deferences]

[after having suffered a tragic age regression some days ago, this lively little party is exactly what lan sizhui needs to take his mind off things. any other time, he might have just popped in for a quick run-around, taken some snacks then left, but this time, he's determined to stay for a decent amount of time and actually enjoy the festivities.

unlike jiang cheng, it seems.

initially spotting him, he's almost certain he's seeing things, except there's only one person he knows with an attitude like that and it's so unmistakable, he feels confident in approaching. as he draws closer, the boy confirms that yes, this is most certainly sect leader jiang, which has him grinning in spite of himself because one, he's quite obviously disgruntled with his situation and two, he seems outright determined to either not have a good time or at least seem grouchy enough, he drives off anyone who might try interacting with him.

how lucky(?) for him, sizhui's not so easily deterred.] This is a party, Jiang-zongzhu, [a pause so he can lift the cup he's holding in greeting then he adds, teasingly,] You should at least try having a little fun.

[fennu]

[ He's not sure how he's supposed to be particularly comfortable with all of this when he's barely been able to wrap his mind around being here or what it means. It should be easier - it's a celebration, surely, some kind of party, and he's been to those before - but he's on edge and uneasy. Something sharp is inside of his gut, twisting up there, and he doesn't know what to do other than skulk and be sour. It doesn't help that everyone else seems so happy when he clearly isn't.

It's not that he's surprised to be approached, but he does have to question the daring of it - at least until he realises who it is. Lan Sizhui, someone who has all the boldness and politeness of his Sect, a peer to his nephew that, sadly, had not quite rubbed off on him in the way that he might once have hoped.

Hit with a sudden edge of longing, Jiang Cheng tries not to think about how desperately he misses his A-Ling already. ]

Lan Sizhui. [ He nods his head, glancing around the room again before he huffs out a noise. ] I'm having fun. Here. [ Alone, and away from all the others. ]

[deferences]

[if he were immediately comfortable being on a train in the middle of voidspace, sizhui would be questioning who he really was. he's well-aware how discombobulated he'd been during his arrival, how he had been outright afraid to leave the platform and get onto the locomotive, but the pressing invisible insistence would've won out anyway, had lan wangji not been there to greet him. so yes, he understands being uncomfortable, he's just going to hope his somewhat familiar face helps ease that anxiety.

well, that, and the fact he has an idea niggling at the back of his mind. something he assumes will be helpful in the long run. (hey, who's to say he still won't have the ability to help jin ling in the future?)]

By yourself, [sizhui notes, also sparing a glance at their surroundings.] Here, follow me. [then he does a neat heel-turn, heads for the nearby staircase, assuming jiang cheng will follow since where he's going, there are likely fewer people hanging around.

and to be fair, once they're away from prying ears, he can ask the older cultivator more questions without him worrying they'll have nosy eavesdroppers.]

[fennu]

[ Jiang Cheng immediately wishes that he didn't have the urge to follow, that he didn't trust the younger Lan in the way that he does - Sizhui had been good as a friend, if not a good influence, and he knows that those from Gusu are worth respecting and trusting. They have rules to follow, after all, and whatever irritation he often feels when he thinks of Hanguang-Jun shouldn't rub off on the others from his Sect.

Frustration makes his face twist all over again, but he musters himself. He's a leader himself, the man who rebuilt Lotus Pier from ashes and cultivated it into something strong and worthy of respect once more. He's not going to let a party be the best of him - in no way, shape or form.

Huffing a noise - one that might sound somewhat childish to anyone listening - he snaps his robes and begins to follow Sizhui. ]

How long have you been here?

[deferences]

[denying sizhui's hard, given how amicable he is, always ready and willing to help, no matter what the situation. jiang cheng's just lucky the boy doesn't see his irritation or else he might've been upset further at his immediate reaction to smile. sometimes, he can't help it, just too pleased with himself by the fact people know he's trustworthy. he isn't the kind of boy to steer anyone wrong, especially not one of his closest friend's uncles!

and besides, he needn't follow— jiang cheng is more than welcome to take the lead upstairs since sizhui hesitates at the first step and motions while politely answering,] A little over five months now.

[although don't think he didn't notice the petulant reaction before he followed! makes him think jin ling had to get it from somewhere, right? which in turn makes him almost grin outright but he pinches his lips too quickly.] When did you arrive? [if that's an okay thing to ask right now.]

[fennu]

[ At least one of the juniors is polite. It's not necessarily fair to compare Lan Sizhui with Lan Jingyi or Jin Ling, but there's definitely something a little comforting about being treated with some level of respect. He doubts anyone else would offer him any, no matter who they are - the notion of Wei Wuzian or Lan Wangji letting Jiang Cheng walk anywhere first would be enough to make him laugh.

He begins to climb the stairs, pretending that he isn't feeling odd and out of place. His hand still longs for the sword missing at his side and he hesitates, hands clenching around nothing before he straightens his back and begins to move. He cannot show weakness; even now an echoing voice whispers in his ear.

Still. Five months. An egregious amount of time. ]

Not that long ago. [ Zidian is not quite buzzing, but it's close. ] What have you done for five months, Lan Sizhui?

[deferences]

[his father and jiang cheng may have their awkward, tense stare-offs, but that's not for sizhui. he much prefers being courteous and so what if there was the one time where he'd had to act diplomatically during a night-hunt for hanguang-jun? that won't suddenly make his own manners disappear, all of which have told him: respect one's seniors.

poor guy... but he needn't fret too much, he'll get used to it eventually. the boy counts the steps as jiang cheng ascends – one, two, three – then he follows him up, both hands tucking into his hoodie pocket. it's fortunate he'd waited a couple seconds before doing so since the man hesitates for whatever reason; sizhui stops behind him, waits patiently until he's regathered his bearings and continues after him again. (don't think he didn't notice those hands clenching, though!)]

I see. [a beat while he considers his answer then,] Whatever our groups are told to onworld. While on the train? Read, make use of the cinema car and cook, mostly.

[fennu]

[ The politeness is calming, at least, and it means that Jiang Cheng can keep going and do his best to keep himself calm. Lan Sizhui had done nothing to inspire his wrath, either before or in the present, and he has no desire to snap at him just because he's in a bad mood. It's a matter of being more mature, of being the clan leader, of being a decent enough person.

At least for now. He's not entirely in a bad mood.

Moving forward, he forces himself to calm down before he breathes out gently. It's awkward being in a place like this, awkward to be this on edge, awkward to feel so uncomfortable. But he'll get over it. ]

What's a cinema?

[deferences]

[good because he doesn't wanna have to fetch his guqin and use it on jiang cheng anytime soon. to be fair, however, he would understand being a little snappy after getting abruptly kidnapped from their homeworld; lan sizhui knows he sure didn't appreciate it, but it's been alright with family and friends (new and old).

but he can absolutely be grateful for not having to endure the sect leader's wrath.

sparing a momentary glance around them, sizhui's head tilts with confusion until he remembers: right, jiang cheng hasn't been here, of course he doesn't know what a cinema is.] It's a place where people go to watch movies, which are, ah... like moving pictures that tell a story? It's easier to show rather than explain.

[hey, uncle, do you wanna watch a movie? and now you can imagine it to the tune of “do you wanna build a snowman?”]

[fennu]

[ Give it a few weeks and, perhaps, he will need it - but for the moment he is doing his best to manage his anger and try to keep it under wraps. There are more strangers here so he is doing his best to be polite, to be proper, to be a Sect Leader, but the people who don't know that or deserve it...

Lan Sizhui is one of those people. Jiang Cheng recognises he ought to be polite. He needs to be sensitive. To be... Good.

The explanation doesn't really... Explain much, but it does sound interesting. Moving pictures that tell a story; like a live performance? That seems recognisable at least. Perhaps he will indulge. ]

I would like to see it one day.

[ He's being tense, he knows that, but what else can he say? ]

If you could show me.

[deferences]

[a few weeks is doable and even if he needs more, he's allowed that. anyone who's ripped away from their homeworld and dropped into the void on some ridiculous locomotive deserves all the time they need to adjust.

whether jiang cheng plays nice or is wholly himself, he'll adapt, it's just how he do. (that, and he's someone who is used to the man's demeanor, so!) but oh gosh, he should have explained it like that instead, it would've made much more sense—

it's okay, he conveyed it well enough and jiang cheng's already said he wants to see it.] Of course, I'd love to. Whenever we're both free next.

[they're on the train schedule now, so it shouldn't be difficult to figure out a time.]