Test Drive Meme!

[rekindlemods]

Welcome to the Rekindle Test Drive! Trying to see if a character will fit or work in the setting? Need some interaction samples? Well this meme is for you! Make a post, tag around, and most importantly, have fun! Here's the setting page for those who want to learn a little more about the city itself. Then don't forget to go reserve your character in a week when they open. Here's some prompts to help you get started, if you need it: Option 1 [While the days grow longer and warmer and the older, oriental-style of the city would normally make one think that the interiors would not be much in the way of relief from the hot sun, it may surprise the guest to see that the apartments the natives have allocated for them are surprisingly comfortable. In fact, the only modern convenience they may be missing is a television set! At least, outside the media floor on the first floor of Building One - the first of four inter-connected buildings. In fact, each apartment building seems to have at least one different amenity on the first floor. In Building Two they seemed to even spare a library in another that seems to have the basics and some information packets that are otherwise found in the Welcome Center in District 2. There are even a few restaurants and common dining areas in the Building Three that are open until late at night, and meeting areas and a ballroom on the first floor in Building Four, perfect for setting up small parties or big events. With the locals gone save those who work in the restaurants and the one librarian, leaving you to your own devices, what will you do? What mysteries could be left to discover in this place?] Option 2 [With summer coming, the water level in the river is starting to go down, exposing some of the beach. The Riverside Shack is open late, and its restaurant is pulling out all the stops and offering seafood specials (even though a river is a far cry from an ocean). The rental store, meanwhile, is finally bringing out more of its swimming supplies, inner tubes and pool noodles, and a calmer stretch of the river has been roped off with buoys for swimming. They even have lifeguards chairs set up. Clearly this sort of thing used to be an annual event. It's not quite an ocean beach (quite different actually), but there's still plenty of chance to have fun in the water. Or teach someone to swim, perhaps.] Option 3 [If you're more inclined to explore or learn, the City's Learning Center might be more to your tastes. There certainly seems to be a lot going on here - there's laboratories and libraries and workshops, and plenty of communal areas where you can meet and talk with people. The natives seem pretty absorbed with their studies and work, though they're polite in brushing you off, at least. Perhaps you'll have more luck seeing what other Guests such as yourself have discovered?] Option 4 [Whoops. Looks like you haven't taken the cautionary words of the other NPCs to heart, or maybe you just wanted to take your chances. Either way, the withdrawal symptoms have started and you need to find someone to hug quickly before you get even more sick.] Option 5 [If there's something else you wanted to play with, that you didn't see here, then have fun with that. You've just arrived in a strange city, after all. There's got to be plenty to explore out and about, not to mention people to meet.]

Comments

[agreatpianist]

[By that point, she was drifting off herself. Madge probably wouldn't admit it out loud, but she was thankful he'd found her... even if it was on accident. In her sleep, she shifted closer to him.]

[ensared]

[ His breathing is slowly getting deeper, more steady. When she shifts closer he only exhales softly, tightening his grip on her hand just slightly. ]

[agreatpianist]

[The knowledge that he was resting well was enough to keep her asleep. Even the grip on her hand didn't make her stir. It only made her subconsciously seek more comfort, shifting closer yet.]

[ensared]

[ Even before the bombings, Posy got nightmares once in a while, and she'd taken to crawling into bed with him for comfort. So when Madge drew closer to him, it came as second nature for Gale to put an arm around her and hug her close against his chest. ]

[agreatpianist]

[Drawn close, Madge made herself comfortable against him and slept peacefully like that the rest of the night. Her arms wrapped around him to keep him close.]

[ensared]

[ This was a good position. He just snuggled his face into her neck, and he's good for the night. Day. Whatever it is. ]

[agreatpianist]

[Oh, yes. A very good position. It isn't for another several hours before she stirs, even a little. And when she starts to come to, it takes her several minutes to figure out what exactly was going on... Of course, when she did, she froze.]

[ensared]

[ Gale was sleeping soundly until he felt something change. He gave a soft moan as he started to wake up and when he realized that he was holding someone, he immediately let go and rolled over onto his back to rub the sleepiness out of his eyes. ]

[agreatpianist]

[Madge let go easily, rolling onto her back just as quickly, maybe even shifting to lay on her side and face away from him. For all the awkwardness that was sure to follow, she still felt infinitely better.]

[ensared]

[ Everything was slowly coming back to him as he started to wake up. He was in some city. He'd gotten sick and needed to lie down, and with some effort, he'd finally found a room with a bed to rest on. Except he'd needed to share it... but not with Posy. She wasn't blonde.

Madge Undersee was blonde.

Gale sat up so fast, he saw stars. Still not at 100%, but better. Either the sleep had done the trick, or the people hadn't been lying. The latter was much more unsettling. He looked down at her for confirmation, and sure enough - it was the Mayor's daughter lying there, apparently still sleeping. He let out an unsteady breath and leaned his head back against the headboard.

He'd just slept with the Mayor's daughter. Thom would have a fit if he knew, never let him live it down.

Shooting a glance at the door, Gale calculated his chances. She wasn't awake yet. Maybe he could sneak out before she woke up and save them both the embarrassment. ]

[agreatpianist]

[Infinitely better still didn't mean 100%. Madge's eyes were wide open as she stared at the opposite wall. He sat up, quickly, but didn't say anything. Probably thought she was still asleep. She could play it off like that maybe... They'd never have to mention it again...

She bit down on her lip and before she could think any better of it, she rolled back over to look at him.]

..... How do you feel?

[ensared]

[ He started, ripping his gray eyes from the door to look back at her. Sleeping. Ha. Of course not. ]

Better.

[ Admitting that he wasn't all the way there yet just wasn't going to happen. That wasn't how Gale functioned, even back at home, among his own family. Denying his condition was a habit that got hard to break, after living with it for so long. He hesitated before asking: ]

How about you?

[ No, this wasn't awkward at all. ]

[agreatpianist]

[Madge couldn't help but smile and nod slowly.]

I'm glad to hear it.

[And for what it was worth? She meant that sincerely. When he returned the question, she shrugged and glanced away.]

I'm feeling better too. Thanks.

[For asking? For staying? What was there to even say now?]

[ensared]

[ He nodded curtly, averting his eyes as well. ]

Thanks for... For letting me stay. I owe you.

[ Now it was time for him to take off before this got any weirder. He got up, stretching his limbs. ]

Guess I should go.

[agreatpianist]

You don't have to.

[Madge regretted saying it as soon as it was out of her mouth. She shifted to sit up, watching him for a moment before glancing away.]

I mean... It's nice knowing someone from home... And you shouldn't over do it when you're not 100% better.

[ensared]

[ Gale eyed her questioningly. She wanted him here? That had to be a first, he thought, before a wave of irritation washed over him. ]

I'm fine.

[ Snapping at her was the wrong thing to do, and he instantly regretted it. The Mother Hawthorne and Katniss in his mind glared at him in reproach, making him wince under their gazes. He was being a jerk again. Nice way to repay her generosity in letting him stay, right? The next time he spoke, his voice was gentler. ]

...Sorry.

[ Gale started to say something else, but he stopped himself. What else was there to say? How did he respond to that? All he'd ever done was give Madge hell and here she was, being nothing but polite. Nice, even. ]

Yeah. I... I'm glad you made it out okay.

[agreatpianist]

[Madge didn't wince when he snapped, though her smile did fade and her face turn a little stonier. At least he apologized. At least he started being nice... But... Should she tell him?

She was quiet several moments after, chewing on her lip and not quite looking at him.]

I didn't, though.

[ensared]

[ Well. Gale knew that Madge had never made the slightest bit of sense to him, but this? This was just ridiculous. He stared at her, eyes intense, wondering what sort of game she was playing. ]

If that's supposed to be a joke, I'm not laughing.

[ Too many people had died in those explosions to tolerate that. But the way she sat there before him, he knew it wasn't. She meant what she said, but how that could be possible was beyond him. It was even less plausible than the touching thing. ]

[agreatpianist]

I'm not either.

[Madge managed to glance back at him, careful to not withdraw under that stare. She was strong and stubborn. Her lips formed a thin line.]

They tell me I'm not dead now... But I don't know that I can believe them. I know what happened...

[Her voice quivered at the end of the sentence, forcing her to draw in a deep breath.]

[ensared]

[ His brow furrowed. It couldn't be true. How could someone come back from the dead? He schooled his expression carefully into something neutral. It was all he could do to keep his voice from sounding choked, like he was struggling to get the words out. ]

You're sure you didn't just pass out and wake up here?

[ It had to be more mundane like that. What she was suggesting was impossible, and Gale couldn't bring himself to believe it. ]

[agreatpianist]

I don't know what to believe anymore.

[She chewed on here lip again and sighed, trying not to think about everything... But...]

If I passed out, I don't know how I would've survived. I remember it vividly and it haunts my dreams.

[ensared]

We don't know how they brought us here, either.

[ But the certainty she spoke with... The absolute certainty that she died back there... It sent an involuntary shudder through him, and Gale found himself wondering if he should try to apologize. For failing her, failing her family, allowing them all to die.

He didn't want to believe it was true. He refused to believe it. If he did, he'd drive himself crazy trying to figure out how. Still, that certainly struck a chord in him, and he didn't want to know what that might mean.

So Gale looked away from her uncomfortably. What was he supposed to say in this conversation? There was no point in excuses. ]

We all have nightmares now. Even me.

[ His voice trails off before he can add something else: about everyone I couldn't save. ]

[agreatpianist]

[Madge was certain she died. Nothing else could hurt that much, then feel so numb. Why did she ask him to stay again? She sighed.]

No... we don't. But maybe it's a second chance, except without most of the important people.

[Most. She doesn't even know why she said it like that. But she can't take it back now, so she pulls her knees to her chest and watches him.]

I'm sorry you have them too.

[Should she mention that she didn't have any when they were asleep? No. That would make it weird... More weird than it already was. Wouldn't it?]

[ensared]

I'm sorry I didn't save you.

[ As soon as the words leave his mouth, his eyes widen in surprise. He'd been thinking it, just on the off-chance that she was right and really had died, but he'd never meant to say it. That made it real. That made her a victim of his failure as a leader, and Gale wasn't sure how to deal with that.

He should really just leave, he decided, turning his back to her in search of an escape. The door was right over there. A few steps, and he'd be gone. ]

[agreatpianist]

[Madge's eyes widened at the apology. Of all the things for him to say, she hadn't expected that. Tears sprung to the corners of her eyes and she blinked them back. No, she wouldn't let him see her cry.]

It's not your fault.

[When she spoke, her voice was strained. She slid out of bed and blinked a little. Oh, she was much more dizzy when she was standing. Still, it was an improvement.]

Don't blame yourself, please.