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]

[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.

[heismymission]

[He follows her gesture to look at the suggested cafe and examines it a moment. It's small, not crowded, and absent of any patriotic super soldiers, so it meets his standards.]

Right. [A week ago he wouldn't have responded with anything but continuing to walk towards it, but he's starting to figure out that people like verbal responses. Better to learn a bit and be able to blend in than stay with what he's used to and stick out. But he doesn't realize that his stiff, neutral mannerisms make it obvious he's not just another normal person, especially when he interacts with someone long enough.]

[lightstrike]

[The moment they step into the cafe, she lets go of his hand. It's enough, isn't it?

Lightning makes a beeline for a table in one of the far corners, so they can both see who comes in and who goes out, and who's in the cafe with them. He might appreciate that, and Lightning knows she herself would prefer knowing what's going on in her immediate surroundings.]

You can go tell the barista what you want while I'll keep watch over the table. Then it'll be my turn when you come back. Sound good? Or do you want me to go first?

[heismymission]

[There's no argument from the soldier when she lets go; if he feels he needs more contact later, he'll find someone to ask. He's not used to asking for things or even threatening others, so he'll only do it when he feels he needs to.

He appreciates the strategic choice of table (which he would admit) and the instruction (which he would not), and he nods as he begins to turn towards the cafe's bar, metal fingers catching the light for a brief moment.]

I'll go first.

[He won't take long stepping over and looking at the menu, simply choosing something that looks like it has plenty of things in it.]