Test Drive - May Edition

[rekindlemods]

Belated May 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. And don't forget to go reserve your character, GO GO GO.......

((PS: We’ve also gotten a suggestion to try and post our Test Drives on the same day as the Activity Check goes up! That is, the last day of the month. We may try that out next time, and see how it works!))

Here's some prompts to help you get started, if you need it:

Option 1

[Animals, animals everywhere! All over the different parts of the city…And perhaps paying you a visit as well! In a strange manner, as you might find yourself looking over Saeng Seong in a different, more fuzzy perspective.]

Option 2

[Petals keep falling on your head; or at least they have a persistent habit of falling from trees that are in full bloom. And as a consequence they form a nice array of color floating on the wind…Or perhaps getting in one’s face and blocking vision. Or in the worst case, causing a sneezing fit from the excess pollen. Still, at least there’s some flowers to help liven up the air?]

Option 3

[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 4

[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

[lightstrike]

Funny, I would have thought there was, since you were looking at me like something important happened.

Which means it's not me-- it's you.

[Lightning falls silent to examine the man closely. Somewhat guarded stance, strong gaze but probably slow reaction time to her comment. She knows the signs of hunger well.]

Are you all right?

[heismymission]

[He has to get a better hold of himself if he's going to stay out of sight, he thinks to himself. He's used to escaping immediately and returning to base, not staying out and attempting to blend in. He did all right back in D.C., but the city was more dense and he had a lot more energy. The people there didn't talk to him. They do here.

He doesn't like being under scrutiny, especially not by someone his mind is telling him could be dangerous. But he pushes the thought aside to answer.]

I'm fine. Just tired.

[lightstrike]

No, you're probably not "just" tired. You're looking bad, which is something when resources around here are easy to get.

[Lightning takes a few steps forward, cautiously in case the man is skittish and decides to bolt.] Come with me-- I'll get you something.

[heismymission]

[The soldier stands his ground, though he isn't sure he likes the way she's speaking. He can take care of himself--and he's out here for a reason, trying to fix the problem that's now bothering him. On his own.]

Like what. ["Something" is very vague when he hasn't even said what he's looking for. He doesn't like surprises.]

[lightstrike]

[Damn. He's tense now. She probably should have done something different. So she stops where she is, and raises her hands. See? Nothing in them, and she has a sleeveless top on, so nothing to pull out.]

Like food. Fiber, protein, things like that. You think you're fine now, but you look like you've gone on too long without something to eat, and people cant exactly live on water alone.

[heismymission]

[Alright, food. That's a good answer, and the way his shoulders relax a bit shows it.]

Where are we going, then.

[He doesn't mind being helped, but he doesn't want it shoved on him, so he'll accept her offer. He's just... still getting used to finding his own food, is all. It can be difficult when you're trying to keep anyone from noticing you.]

[lightstrike]

Anywhere there's food. The building I live in has a lot of restaurants, and there's a shopping mall with a food court. There's also a marketplace and small diners and cafes, in case you're not into crowds.

[Lightning takes his acknowledgment as a sign, and gets a little closer. Not too close, because she's still not used to all the touchy-feeliness of this world, and because he might bolt for real this time if she suddenly shoves her shoulder against his arm.] It's all up to you. Choose what you want to eat, and I'll take you there if I know there's a place that serves it.

[heismymission]

[The soldier looks away, not really knowing what there is to eat other than a few basic things, much less what he likes enough to want. It's all the same to him, as long as he stops feeling so weak. But he's not about to admit how little he knows about... normal things to a stranger unless he needs to.]

A smaller place. Doesn't matter what they have. [There is still an actual reason for him to avoid being seen here, despite being on another planet. Because somehow, against all odds, the only person he has any real connection to back home is also here. And he isn't looking to tackle the mess of issues that go with him just yet.]

[lightstrike]

District three it is.

[She taps the man on the shoulder for emphasis, and raises an eyebrow at the metallic clink, but says nothing. She just moves forward.

But she remembers something, too. And she probably shouldn't have forgotten, since she's experienced it before. So she'll ask without breaking stride.] You don't look local. So, touched anyone recently?

[heismymission]

[He's a little taken aback by the touch, but not particularly alarmed by it, noting her reaction before beginning to walk alongside her. If she asks, he'll tell. For now, he keeps his hands in his jacket pockets.]

Not much. [It's been... an awkward what is this for handshake here and there, certainly not anything to stave off the symptoms. The circumstances--do this thing or suffer the consequences--feels too similar to the situation he just managed to escape from. So he's been putting it off.] Do all of the others just do it?

[lightstrike]

We have to, if we want to stay well, or even alive. [Well, that confirms that he's new.] This place doesn't affect the locals like it affects us-- they don't lose energy, but we do. Even one week going without is enough to make us weaker.

It's not easy, or everyone's cup of tea, but we do what we can to survive.

[She pauses in speaking, but not in walking.] At the very least, all we need to do just that are inside the city, and readily available.

[heismymission]

[His jaw tenses at the idea that death is even a possibility just from not touching others, and it makes him uneasy. The upside to that, however, is that it's an easy enough thing to maintain. It's not like he's going to be asked to kill any more damn super soldiers.]

What do you do for it? [A specific question for the woman, not just a general one. There are a lot of ways to touch people, and he doesn't really know what others think is best, or what they might prefer. He has no preconceptions about it. Or much of anything.]

[lightstrike]

[Strange question. Lightning raises an eyebrow for a few seconds, before smoothing over her expression in order to answer him with a calm face.] Sparring with someone works. So does a handshake. Any kind of prolonged contact is just fine, even if you're wearing gloves.

But most of the time I just hold my sister and that's enough for me to get by.

[She shrugs at him. For Lightning, it's much easier for her to hug her sister than it is to touch an acquaintance so casually.] My advice? Just ask someone, and they'll probably let you hold their hand for a while.

[heismymission]

[For him, the idea of fighting without the objective to kill or disable isn't something that's occurred to him, and he isn't really certain he's interested in trying it with strangers whose intentions he doesn't know. But hands? Hands he can do.

He doesn't realize that Lightning isn't that interested in touching people other than her sister, but he doesn't really get why it would uncomfortable in the first place. Besides, the most obvious option seems to be to ask the person he's already walking with, which he does with a calm look.]

Would you?

[lightstrike]

[What does he mean by that? She frowns a little, not sure how to take his question.]

... You're going to have to elaborate on that for me. Would I what?

[heismymission]

Let me hold your hand. [The tone of his voice is nothing but neutral, and the same goes for his expression. He has no reason to feel anything about the idea or asking about it, and the more he thinks about it, the more he realizes he'd much rather have his energy back. It means caving into the demands of the people who brought him here, but it's a sacrifice he'll have to make if he wants to survive.]

[lightstrike]

[... Oh.

She probably should have expected him to ask for her help as soon as she told him about it. But she's not about to abandon him in that regard-- she's already there, no reason to make him find someone else to help him out.

There's something about his delivery that concerns her, however. Her entire conversation with him, in fact. He tends to be so neutral, or at least seems like that. There's something strange about that. Lightning doesn't feel in danger, even if she can tell this man is dangerous, so it's... different.]

... All right. [Holds out her hand. She'd have warned him against lewd comments or him claiming she's his girlfriend to anyone who'd listen... but Lightning thinks he's not that kind of guy.]

[heismymission]

[And she would be correct that there'd be no lewd comments from the soldier--or really, many comments at all. There's not even a thanks as he removes his hands from his pockets--his left a little more slowly thanks to his mechanical arm's damaged state--and takes the offered hand in his right.

He can at least tell that most people probably would prefer that over his metal one, even if his palm is gloved, just by virtue of the fact that... most people don't have metal limbs. He still isn't sure about how most people here will react to it, but he's willing to guess that they're more likely to take it in stride than those in his own world.

With one problem being taken care of, he returns his focus to the other issue.]

The place we're going--how far is it? [He's aware enough of the districts of the city--the map was easy enough to memorize and he has no problems orienting himself--but he's less familiar with the individual shops and things.]

[lightstrike]

[At the beginning, her grip is... not too tight. Stiff, in fact, Lightning's mindset still not ready to entertain the ability to touch other people like this, especially complete strangers. But she forces herself to relax, and then maintain a firm but not constricting grip on his hand.]

Not too far, if we just keep walking at a good pace. Ten minutes at most. [His question does bring back some of her concern about his condition however-- he's set on touch, but what about everything else?]

Think you can wait until we get there? We just have to get to the third district, and then we can choose a cafe from there. [He does seem like someone used to harsh situations, and people like that can hold on for a whole, but it cant hurt to ask.]

[heismymission]

[The change in the way she holds his hand hardly registers in his mind, as he already considers the task done. The exact method doesn't matter to him--the touch is there, and that's what he needs.

This time he doesn't take her question as an insult to his ability to survive, like he did her statement before. Offers of help do wonders to keep him from taking things negatively, apparently.]

I can wait. [Another ten minutes isn't going to kill him if he's gotten this far, especially if this touch thing is going to be helping him feel better.]

[lightstrike]

[That's a relief. At least she doesn't have to worry about him passing out in the middle of the road and having to carry him around. That would be a completely different problem in itself.]

Good. Let's go then. [She tugs at his hand for emphasis, because while she's making sure she doesn't go too fast, sometimes it's hard to remember that some people just don't walk as briskly as her.

But when they eventually get to District 3 and its row of shops and cafes, Lightning has to slow down and wonder where to take her guest.]

[heismymission]

[The soldier keeps pace with Lightning easily, given that he's used to pushing himself forward when he's tired or injured. Being a super soldier probably helps.

Most of the time spent walking to the third district is spent looking forward, as he finds himself too focused on getting something to eat to examine the things around him. Normally he wouldn't depend on anyone else, but the fact that the woman alongside him is in a better state to be aware of the surroundings makes it easier for him to tune things out.

That isn't to say he doesn't notice things, however; he turns to her when she slows, curious.]

What is it?

[lightstrike]

Nothing. Just wondering which one to choose.

[She hasn't come here to eat in a while, just to shop for essentials every now and then. After all, with Serah around, who needs to go to a diner to eat? Her sister's cooking trumps anything else she's ever had in her life.

What would be best for someone who's probably starving? Likely something with a little bit of everything.]

... Does a wrap or a sandwich sound good?

[heismymission]

That sounds fine.

[He's not hard to please at this point, given that he has no preferences for much of anything. He gets what he can and uses whatever works the quickest. He hasn't stopped to think about anything else.

... But maybe once he gets used to having choices, he'll start to figure out what he actually likes. This is a step forward, at least.]

[lightstrike]

[His noncommittal answer only cements her thoughts about him-- there's something different about this man. He's so defensive, skittish like a little animal and guarded against strangers, and yet has not voiced any of his opinions other than agreeing with hers when it comes to choices.

There's something... wrong with him. She just doesn't know what, and is hesitant to ask.

So instead, she tugs on his hand again, to get his attention, and jerks her head at one of the little cafes at the ground floor of a small apartment building. She knows that place, has been there before, and they probably still know her, so she imagines it'll be fine.]

Over there then.