Test Drive Meme: Feb/March 2016

[undergroundmods]

"Pulp - Common People" (Watch on YouTube)

Welcome to the Underground test drive meme! This is where you can try out the AU version of your character, start some potential CR and get a feel for the world of the game. Choose your character's species, read up on the available factions and you're ready to go. Put your character's name in your subject line when you post, tag out, and have fun!

Note to current players: Activity in this meme counts as game canon! So you can use it for activity check. If you end up playing anything that you can't or don't want to use as game canon, it's fine to ignore it. (In that case you shouldn't submit it for activity check.)

Here are some prompts to inspire you:

1) COMMON PEOPLE. What do normal Londoners do every day anyway? Sometimes you just want to blend in with everyone else. Make friends with humans. Talk about the weather. Go on, try it.

2) PENTHOUSE SUITE. But wait. Maybe you want to see how the other half live. The elite of the elite. You've been lucky enough to be asked to a meeting, or a luncheon, or a date. Find out what the most powerful people in London are really like.

3) GET OUT YOU FILTH. Supernatural prejudice is a regrettable fact of life in London. It doesn't matter what you are, there's someone out there who hates you because of it. They'll shun you, heckle you, even hunt you down and kill you. Of course, you're probably not immune to a few prejudices yourself.

4) SPEED DATING. Oh god. Why did you sign up to this. You should have known it was a bad idea when someone mentioned it was supernatural speed dating. Help.

5) THE REAL UNDERGROUND. Down in the darkest corners of the Tube, there are supernatural vagrants of all kinds, especially vampires. That friendly busker may well be a fae. That girl waiting for the next train is a ghost. Once you've seen it, you can't escape from it.

6) IN THE SUPERMARKET. On the other hand, you never know what you might find just walking around your local supermarket. You haven't forgotten how to do normal things like groceries, right?

7) A CURSED EXISTENCE. Maybe you literally are cursed. Maybe you just feel like it sometimes. There are things you can't do, weaknesses that normal humans aren't subject to, but they make everyday life in London that little bit more difficult. Try not to get too mad about it.

8) CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE. Anything goes.

Comments

Bucky Barnes | MCU | Werewolf

[justaghost]

3. Get out you filth

[Now, this wasn't the first time Bucky had seen or even been involved with prejudice. He grew up in as a poor kid in the depression, was an American soldier in Europe during WW2 and now he was one what some might argue is the lowest creature on the supernatural totem pole. He was fine if the prejudice was directed at him, he knew how to ignore it. Put it towards a friend or some innocent bystander? Hell no.]

Look pal--

[He stepped out of his seat at the bar, his metal hand shoved into his pocket and hidden by the long sleeves he wore.]

I don't see how getting into someone elses business is any of your concern, maybe you should pick on someone your own size.

[Namely him.]

4. Speed dating

[He wondered vaguely for a moment who in the world set him up with speed dating. At least he dressed nice for this, he even had his hair all nice and neat. He sat the the table, leaning back in his seat as he stared at the glass of whiskey in front of him and then to the person in front of him. Well, he was always the charmer. Being frozen in time for 70 years hopefully didn't damper his game. He smiled as he stared at the person across from him and chuckled as he brought the glass to his lips.]

So, what's your story?

6. Supermarket.

[Even if he was a werewolf....he still needed bread and eggs. He had a shopping cart in from of him, empty, and he was starting at the milk with a face of both disapproval and disbelief.]

5 pounds for milk?

[This is a disgrace. He didn't fight the Nazis for this.]

Jesus Christ....

[Well, it was better than rations and condensed milk for sure. He begrudgingly placed the milk in the basket with a heavy sigh. He was not excited about shopping anymore.]

6

[abide]

[ While they were out, it seems as if the world had gotten a lot busier. Faster. As excited as he'd been about accompanying Bucky to one of the supermarkets down the street, he's still trying to wrap his mind around that fact alone. They hadn't exactly parted ways once inside the place, but there's simply too much going on to stand around together looking at the same thing. Besides, Steve had counted at least five different types of bread in different packaging, and the fact there's an entire display of it for sale is just as fascinating as the other stuff they have crammed on the shelves. It's tidy though, neat.

Steve wanders back to him with an unrefrigerated carton of eggs like they're made of gold; for the price, they might as well be. Everything seems better than anything they could have ever gotten on the field, but he wonders how people survive these days without starving or living on the street. ]

Most of what they've got here isn't any better than that. These were-- [ He shrugs and holds up two fingers. ] And that's only part of what we put on the list.

[ How much money did they have again? ]

[justaghost]

[Not enough that was for sure.]

What the hell? Two?

[They should be getting at least 3 dozen for that price. He scratched the back of his neck in annoyance. What happened to getting everything you needed for the week with 5 bucks?]

Maybe they keep the cheap stuff in the back...

[He says as he starts to rummage through the milk on the shelves looking for one with a different price. There were none. He gave an annoyed growl as he straighten back up.]

We should just buy a farm at this rate.

[abide]

[ Steve takes the basket as he does, watching Bucky and giving a tentative smile to the couple that passes by with a somewhat judgmental expression on their faces. He reaches out to touch his elbow, a casual sort of graze in an attempt to comfort him. ]

I don't think we're gonna have enough money for that either. [ He frowns, reaching into the pockets of his jeans to pull out the list they'd made before coming. Maybe if they decided on the important things, all of this wouldn't be such an experience, but Steve figures they had already worked that out before anything had actually made it onto the list in the first place. He glances up and tries to find any signs that tell him where he should look for... Hm. ] You want to look at the frozen stuff?

[ And maybe there's a slight grin—an attempt at making him feel better. Prices aside, it hasn't been a total disaster so far. ]

[justaghost]

[He couldn't care less what looks he was getting. How was he the only one that was outraged by this? He really thought he had money saving down to a science with how they were in the depression. Organizing their rations, making sure that they were there on time to get there early and even making sure what they had lasted them the whole week. Things were different now though, they had to eat. Bucky couldn't skip meals anymore, if he did that he would just even up starving himself because of his wolf side. Maybe he should just start hunting deer for himself, at least that was free.

At the mention of frozen food he turned to Steve with an eyebrow raised and a crooked smile on his face. Yeah, he got the reference. Punk.]

What, you didn't get enough of that for a life time?

[abide]

[ Steve can tell it makes him feel out of place, and while he's struggling with it too, there's little they can do for it except take it for what it is and move on. Some things haven't changed, but others are more noticeable, easier to get lost in. Bucky had always been softer in that regard, especially with trying to keep up with Steve half the time, and there's a wider grin with that particular reaction, holding tight to the basket even as he nudges him in the direction of those freezers. ]

Being frozen isn't the same, and nobody said we had to get anything. I just wanna look. [ Because if the bread and milk have taught him something, it's that there will be plenty of variety. Besides, it's a lot better than boiling everything too. They're probably going to have to work on that when they get the chance, and with or without Bucky, Steve's already heading straight for the far wall to do just that. ]

[justaghost]

Speak for yourself--

[He said as he went in the direction that Steve nudged him. He paused at the beginning of the section and glanced around. He could already feel the cold and it made him scowl slightly. He didn't see why Steve was interested it in. If anything this stuff was more expensive than some of the fresh food they saw. He stared at a bag and pointed to them as he looked back to Steve.]

Howard had me like those peas right there. All cramped as hell and getting frost bite.

[He was only partly joking. He sighed heavily and made a groan to voice his disapproval as he still followed him.]

I swear they are putting everything in bags now...

[abide]

[ Steve just gives him a look that says he's completely innocent in all of this, though it's spiked with a bit of a smirk. They were friends for a reason, had been for a long time, and regardless of how out of time they were, they'd make it work. Steve believes that more than anything else; if they have each other, they'd be fine. It couldn't be any worse than half of the other stuff they'd already lived through anyway. ]

Better than cans, right? [ Even if he hadn't missed the aisle with all the canned goods either. Would that have been cheaper? ] You don't even have to really cook most of this either. [ Ready-to-eat or toss in the microwave—Steve doesn't know if that's any better than boiling their food, but he'll take it. He pulls open the door and snatches up a bag of peas to toss them at Bucky. ] They don't look anything like you. Stark must have done a good job.

[ Maybe shopping is going to be a fun endeavor after all if this is what he gets out of it each time. ]

4, see if I don't.

[outstandingbalance]

That might be a little long for eight minutes.

[Natasha's answer is presented smoothly, without hesitation or obvious signs of discomfort, though there's something wry about the angle of her half smile. A faint acknowledgement that she's older than she looks.

Her Russian accent isn't overwhelming, but it's there, coloring the words.

The faint smell of animal blood follows her arrival]

The short version is that I'm new in town. Thought I might as well get out, try to make a friend or two.

[Short and highly abridged.]

[justaghost]

[He smiled to her as his body tensed slightly. He could smell the animal blood on her and the death. He knew what she was, but if she was feeding off of animals then he figured that he had no reason to worry-- yet.]

Funny, me too. Just moved in fact, from Brooklyn.

[He could hear the accent....but he didn't want to be rude and assume.]

Where you from originally?

[outstandingbalance]

Originally? [She repeats, considering her answer carefully. There weren't a lot of answers she could give to that that didn't hold a certain amount of risk. Not that were honest, anyway. If she said Russia, she'd be openly dodging. If she said Moscow, where she was most recently from, then it opened the door for questions she didn't want to ask.

Which left lying, or actual truth.

Well.

Why not?]

Stalingrad, originally. It's been a long time since I was there, though.

[And it hasn't been called that in over fifty years.]

Sounds like we're both a long way from home.

[justaghost]

Stalingrad?

[He's hasn't been there, but he knows of it-- and in his time it was still known as that. He was still shaky when it comes to playing catch up with the modern times so he doesn't realize that hint of how old she really is.]

Yeah, I'll say that's pretty far.

What brings you all the way out here?

[outstandingbalance]

Seemed like time to get a fresh start. [She shrugs as though it's that simple.] Easier to do that when I'm further away.

[She notices his lack of reaction with interest. It could just be that he's used to the supernatural. He's here, after all.

Too early to say for sure.]

What about you? I always thought people never left New York.

[justaghost]

Well, you nearly went across the globe, so you definetly got far enough.

[He smiled to her as he took a sip of his drink.]

Yeah-- well if I had things my way I wouldn't have. Brooklyn will always be my home, I'm here for work.

[outstandingbalance]

Getting a continent and a sea between me and Russia sounded like a good start.

[She says it wryly, like she's joking. That seems like a reasonable place to leave the topic, especially when he gives her an opening.]

Work, though. What kind of business are you in, if you don't mind me asking?

3

[exuviate]

[It was misunderstanding, of course, but that was hardly his fault. Albright rarely frequented bars of any sort, but his curiosity had gotten the better of him. There was a person he'd been looking for who exhibited all the characteristics of a mind he'd like to study. Outstanding in their academic pursuits and wasting their potential waiting tables in a bar.

He had only come here for that reason, not to be hassled by a witch for a reason that he found to be particularly inane, that same witch who had grabbed him as he'd tried to leave. Albright was about to say as much, a brow raised, when another person steps in, and he raises his hand to signal that he was fine.]

It's quite alright, I believe they were just leaving.

[Judging by the witch's reaction to his rescuer, they found the stranger dangerous and therefore thought Albright wasn't worth the effort. With a dramatic huff, and a scowl, the witch leaves.]

Thank you for that. I'm Albright.

[A hand out, and an appreciative smile.]

[justaghost]

[A part of him was kind of disappointed that the witch left. He was inching for a fight and watched carefully as the witch left before he turned his attention to the man before him.]

No problem- Albright?

[He repeated the name as he took the man's hand and gave it a firm shake.]

Barnes. Bucky Barnes. Nice to meet you.

[exuviate]

Yes, that's it.

[Albright shakes Bucky's hand, methodically taking the man in. From head to toe in unabashed glances, clearly sizing him up.]

It's a pleasure, Barnes. Or do you prefer Bucky?

[Hand back at his side, he raises a brow.]

In lieu of a better way to say it, do you come here often? I don't so much, and am curious if you're familiar with the people here.

[justaghost]

[He noticed that. His eyebrow raised slightly as he saw his eyes flash up and down him. He didn't say anything though, he simply gave the guy a tight smile as he released his hand.]

Just Bucky is fine, and well I just moved here. Been here a few times this week already though, so I just it's becoming a habit.

[exuviate]

[Strong, and most definitely someone that could best him in a fight, is what Albright gathers from his silent appraisal. He would just make sure to stay on the man's better side.]

Bucky, then.

[He didn't live in the area, but he knew it well enough.]

There's nothing wrong with having a routine. It's good for the mind. Is there any particular reason you frequent this bar, a distraction perhaps?

[justaghost]

A distraction?

[...He wasn't sure about this guy. It just felt like an odd thing for someone to ask after just meeting. But he wasn't completely wrong. After being frozen for 70 years...well guess he just had a lot on his mind.]

Nah, just came to drink and meet some new people.

[exuviate]

Yes, a distraction. To get your mind off of things.

[He was sure it wasn't the only reason people went to public places to drink, but he did know that it was a common one.]

That's understandable. Can I buy you something? For helping.

4

[dirtyredneck]

It was a good thing Bucky was up for starting a conversation, even if it was just an attempt at an ice breaker, because there was no way Daryl was going to be the one to talk first. The glass of whiskey looked like a good idea if only to give him a little more courage. But he knew if he started in on that, he'd risk getting lit when he needed to keep his head.

"I uh... work at a bike shop?" He asked as much as he answered, not sure if that was what his 'date' had meant. His voice was rough and thick with a shout her US accent, but kept soft, betraying his nerves.

[justaghost]

"Bike shop, hu?" He smiled cooly as he pulled his glass closer to him and took a drink. He heard that accent. He wasn't a local either then. It was nice to hear an American way out here though.

"Where you from?" He tried to get something else out of him other than just his occupation.

[dirtyredneck]

"Georgia," he answered easily enough. The other guy didn't seem to have a London accent. But he couldn't place it as strictly American either. At least not an American accent he was familiar with. Was mixed a bit. Maybe the result of travel and picking things up here and there. Or maybe from a place Daryl hadn't been to. Daryl hadn't been to a lot of place in the US before crossing the pond.

"You?" Seemed a safe enough topic as he shifted in his seat, trying to get more comfortable, but only succeeding in tightening his shoulders up as his hands dropped into his lap.