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

[drewthetower]

[Excuse August while he just. Casually reaches over to muss Jun's hair!]

No one asked you, brat. How'd you get that figure, if we're talking nice lists?

[whiteshroud]

[He chuckles, not at all guilty. As how he got on the nice list, well... there's an easy answer for that]

Nepotism, probably.

[It's a joke, really]

[drewthetower]

[August snorts.]

He's barely Christian anymore! How'd nepotism get you on the nice list? Jun, did you bribe Santa?

[whiteshroud]

No, I've never met him.

[He shrugs]

It'd be difficult to explain. [So he won't] However, it is also my birthday - so maybe it's for that?

[drewthetower]

[. . .]

What. You're shitting me right now.

[whiteshroud]

I'm not. December 24th is my birthday.

[...]

I'm aware of the irony.

[drewthetower]

Holy shit, have you ever even had a birthday party and not a "Christmas and also Jun's birthday" party? Do I need to do Jun's Birthday In July, because I will.

[whiteshroud]

Uh...

[He falters for a moment, because first he didn't actually expect August to care enough to talk about throwing a party. And two, this sure steps into the realm of "Jun's past is really depressing and sad, actually" -- and he's not sure how to admit to that]

...Well, a priest made me a birthday cake once. [Once. He's had a grand total of one birthday cake] I-It's really not a big deal, I don't usually do much for my birthday anyway.

[drewthetower]

Well, yeah, your birthday is fucking Christmas Eve!

[Obviously you never did much??]

And like, look, if you don't want shit that's fine but you are getting more than one birthday cake in your life at the very least.

[whiteshroud]

So it's that big a deal...

[It must be if August is reacting THIS much to it. He's seen August get into his mother hen mode before. There's little point in fighting it, especially when he means well.]

Well, I wouldn't want a party about me, but I do like cake... [Sweets are nice ok] B-But don't feel like you have to go out of your way for it.

[drewthetower]

[--shit, he's doing it again. Oops.]

It's not going out of my way, birthdays are just really important in my family. [That or his aunts spoiled him a little when it came to birthdays but either way.] Besides, it's free cake. I have never met anyone who doesn't like free cake.

[whiteshroud]

[It's okay August, he doesn't mind. If anything, it's sweet]

Haha, good point...

Alright, sure. I'd like to try more birthday cake. Thank you, August.

[drewthetower]

Good! But not this month, and probably not early next month either, just because I dunno if you deal with...whatever Christmas thing's in January. King's Day or whatever.

[whiteshroud]

Three Kings Day.

[But more importantly is the fact that he thought he was about to get a birthday cake, only to be suddenly informed otherwise. He's tempted to protest, but ....nnnngh ....be mature...no attachments...]

...Whatever day is fine.

[drewthetower]

[August snickers a little.]

Gimme a few days. New Years isn't technically either December or January, after all.

[#troll]

[whiteshroud]

[Now whose the brat...]

...Whatever. Do it when you can. Do you even know how to make a cake?

[drewthetower]

[August. Absolutely August.]

S'easier with a box mix, but if I can't get that I can make a very basic chocolate cake without it, thank you baking YouTube channels.

[whiteshroud]

[...]

We're on a magic train, August. There is no YouTube.

[drewthetower]

No, I know that! I'm saying that's where I learned!

[whiteshroud]

And you managed to retain the knowledge? Even after all these months?

[drewthetower]

I retained enough! Wouldn't've offered if I didn't!

[whiteshroud]

Alright, alright.

I look forward to seeing what you come up with. Thank you, August.

[drewthetower]

No nut allergies, yeah?

[Would Jun kill him if he tried the chocolate sauerkraut cake...]

[whiteshroud]

[No he'd just make August eat it too]

No nut allergies.

[....]

I do like coffee and caramel flavors, but I'm fine with chocolate if that's what you can manage.

[drewthetower]

If nothing else, maybe I can get a caramel frosting or something. Pretty sure they sell that somewhere, anyway...