Test Drive 031

[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!

Meltdown

You have arrived in a place which might remind you of Victoria London if Victoria London had floating palaces and was ruled by wizards.

Their rule is strict and any kind of Winter celebration is banned. You have been called by a group of rebels to help with an underground celebration.

Team One

Distraction. Be out in the city, keep watch. If the guards get anywhere near the secret entrances distract them. Perhaps by being a lost tourist. Perhaps by causing mayhem. Make sure the organisers and party goers can arrive without a hitch.

Team Two

A party is not complete without food. The party is being held underground and there isn't much in the way of kitchens and do help bake in people's houses and smuggle the food across the city. Careful of guards.

Team Three

The venue needs decorating and the presents need wrapped. It might be an underground bunker but everyone is determined to make it the best festival ever, despite the risks. Help make it happen!

Party

Mission complete it is of course time to party! Eat drink and be merry before you return to the void once more.

Comments

[art_of_war]

...Thrawn didn't know what to make of that. At first, he could just look at Eli without saying anything. Then a small frown etched across his eyebrows. He usually didn't need to talk about any potential strategy?

"I'm...not sure what is meant by 'hash things out'?"

[backwaterimperial]

Thrawn had become fluent in Basic so quickly that sometimes it slipped Eli's mind that Thrawn could still trip over idioms and slang. To hear those words coming out of Thrawn's mouth was almost comical.

"Y'know, if you need to just talk about stuff, whether it's the current situation or just whatever's on your mind." They'd never exactly stayed up late painting each other's toenails and talking about holodramas, but Eli liked to think that he was someone Thrawn could confide in.

[art_of_war]

It was a bit of a white lie to say Thrawn had a translation problem. Or maybe a lie by omission since he was letting Eli believe it though Thrawn did honestly not understand what Eli had meant by it. That frown stayed on his expression.

"That would be strategically unsound. What is it I'm meant to talk about?"

Thrawn wasn't trying to be insensitive but he was something of a bonehead when it came even to normal friendships, which Eli had no doubt seen over the years.

[backwaterimperial]

Eli knew Thrawn well enough to know that he wasn't trying to be obtuse, and that the Chiss just struggled with social situations sometimes. Part of Eli found that a little endearing. It showed that Thrawn wasn't some omniscient being, but just as mortal as anyone and with his own flaws.

"Oh, I dunno. Pieces of art, the weather, something funny you saw, that kinda thing."

[salamandrill]

"We should certainly be quiet about the winter celebrations, which aren't allowed here, and don't exist in the first place." ...she looks around to see if anyone's coming yet.

[ranoutofbuts]

Embarrassed, Faux lets a out small cringe at his gaff, as he gratefully accepts the roll of ribbon back.

He faces Byleth's way apologetically. "Ah, sorry bout that. Seems disk throwing's made me a little too vigorous at the wrist."

After hearing her offer, he answers with a smile, gesturing to his unevenly taped project. "First time wrapping anything. Where I come from, everything comes in boxes. If your willing to show me some pointers, I won't say no."

[bruiserprincess]

"Please tell me you mean you might change your mind and not that it might come to life and start smashing trees." Look. Sometimes these things happen.

III. Team Two

[privilegedyouth]

Nooooo! [Comes a noise of utter frustration from the opposite end of the kitchen, but not in refusal. It's because a girl in a red and black colorscheme worth of clothes has accidentally dumped powdered sugar on herself, and is now a white-speckled disaster.]

I can't go out like this! I just changed before I came in here! [The complaining is intense, angry, and she's doing her best to dust off with a kitchen towel, but out of a black pleated skirt and tights? That's not going to be easy.]

I'm going to have to wear the stupid train uniform. [Grumbled under her breath, before she sneezes more like a mouse than she'd like to sound right now.]

Re: Winter Wonderland

[bruiserprincess]

"We don't usually get snow at home, so I've gotta try it!" It can't be that hard, right? She managed to get mittens and she's pretty sure the next step is just... rolling snow. Simple, right?

[whiteshroud]

[He was focused on decorating some sugar cookies when he hears the sounds of her plight. He'll look up with first confusion and then realization as he takes in the scene]

Oh no...

[Now that sucks. It was such a cute outfit too! He feels bad enough that he'll pull away from his cookie station]

There's gotta be some way to clean it off. Maybe a damp towel?

[whiteshroud]

She must be from a warm place then, huh? Well, Jun can understand that. He gets his own gloves on for this venture.

"Yeah, it's too good an opportunity to pass up!" If he says it enthusiastically, maybe it'll go well! "So do you know the steps of making one?"

party

[quixotically]

[A party. It isn't Elle's first, but she can count on one hand the number she's seen. This one is -- It's different somehow. And not just because it's a different world, different culture. At the same time, it's... almost familiar. Maybe it's because they had to fight to make this happen -- Not... literally fight, but all the same. Hard work went into this. Risk went into this. Just... A space to -- celebrate. To be happy together.

She loves this. And she loves all the unfamiliar food that's been born from all that hard work. She's half-skipping back to the food table for a third time when she gets intercepted with a sausage roll and a drink.

Elle blinks a couple of times. She doesn't know this guy, but [Perception 8] he definitely isn't one of the natives. A second later, her surprise melts into a warm and wide grin.] Hey, thanks! Have you tried this yet? It looks good.

II

[quixotically]

[Elle is holding her own box -- flat and square -- in her hands, still wrapped, because she was about to start carefully peeling the paper off when she got distracted by Jun's glee next to her.

It's infectious, even if she has no idea what the big deal is. She grins over at him.]

What is it?

winter wonderland

[quixotically]

[Elle has a Thing with animals. It's happened for as long as she can remember, which... is not nearly as impressive of a thing to say thanks to the whole shot-in-the-head thing, but, you know, still. It means that she isn't surprised in the slightest when a bird -- a giant crow? -- comes and lands on her shoulder.

But she is giggling, because she definitely overheard what the situation is.]

I have to pick a side here, don't I?

[hotheadwarmheart]

Shifting the dish carefully into one arm, Lea summoned his Keyblade in his free hand, then pointed the Keyblade toward the center of the room. A thin beam of light shot from the tip of the Keyblade, stopping a short distance away to form a swirling portal in midair, with light gleaming at its center. "One Corridor of Light, direct to the party bunker," he said. "Not bad, huh?"

Trip | Pokemon (anime) | OU

[serperiority]

Winter Wonderland

[Trip wasn’t the best at dealing with cold weather, but he wasn’t as bad as his poor Serperior; the ten-foot-long serpentine Grass type Pokemon will remain inside, all coiled up, with the biggest coat Trip could find laid over him, as well as a blanket, and gloves poking out at funny angles hanging off his two leafy appendages; he keeps to himself, carrying himself with almost the usual level of lofty arrogance, but tempered a bit by his misery and the poorly-fitted human clothes.

He might slither around a little, the end of his tail curled rather daintily around a comically small mug of hot chocolate.

After being on the train a while, the snowy scene was so familiar and comforting, Trip (wearing a coat and hat that actually fit) couldn’t help but love it! If he only had his camera… he’s just making right angles with his fingers and looking slowly around the place, taking in the sights. Picturesque, indeed!]

Winter Wonderland

[serperiority]

“… well, we’ve seen pictures of them up-close. They’re made up of a lot of intricate patterns… so even if the outer shape looks the same, the patterns on the inside won’t necessarily match, like how… fingerprints don’t match, even between twins… I think?”

It sure would be easier to prove something if he could just look it up online, but, well. At least this way it’ll make for more conversation!

Winter Wonderland

[serperiority]

[Is that an alien? Well, putting aside the fact that he and everyone on this train were alien to anywhere they went, it was still odd to Trip to see someone dressed like them, looking very human, but just a bit different. He couldn’t help staring a bit while Thrawn studied the snow.]

[serperiority]

Trip couldn’t help noticing she has tails or the fact that they’re curled tighter than a Zorua’s.

“… um… miss? Have you considered putting gloves on those?”

He had two in his pocket in case he needed them, but they’d probably be too small for her tails and one short!

[lightnovelexperiences]

[Her response is waggling her hand - even odds it's just embarrassing or actually sweet.

Soon she opens her door and slides it under her bunk, then turns, dusting her hands, back.]

Sorry about that, seriously. Didn't hurt you, did I?

Re: Three

[lightnovelexperiences]

Sorry, that earns a laugh.

"I take it you've never head that expression before," Deedee says.

[lightnovelexperiences]

That prompts the kind of blinking that gets sound effects in cartoons.

"Thanks," she finally says. "But it's fine, the tails are covered in three inches of protective floof. It's the rest of me that's cold. Appreciate the thought, though."

She seems to have started thinking after that, the way she frowns into her cocoa.

[lightnovelexperiences]

"What they called those kind of rituals on Mundus, when they worked."

She thinks about it, and frowns.

"And weren't orisons to one of the Fourteen, I guess. Agnostic minor magic."

[whiteshroud]

[Don't worry Elle, Jun is more than happy to exposition about this. He'll look away from his box over at her, holding it so she can see it better.]

It's a figure of Magical Alisa. She's the main character of a popular anime in my homeworld. She fights evil with the power of love and hope.

[So typical magical girl anime stuff.]

She's one of my favorites, so it's a nice surprise.

dies a little inside

[quixotically]

[Even though Elle nods along, there is definitely a look in her eyes that is a little alarmed and concerned. Right up until "fights evil with the power of love and hope," because she can grasp what that means. Because, yeah, that confusion and worry is 100% because she... she...]

What's anime?

[She has no idea what he's talking about.]