thetube | Test Drive Meme: April/May 2016

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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 and canon 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) GOING UNDERGROUND. For some people, London is an escape. A place to be anonymous. A place to be themselves. Or a place to hide. Steeped in ancient magic, it attracts supernatural types from all over the world. Of course, that doesn't mean its inhabitants are always friendly to newcomers.

2) CHOOSE YOUR LEADERS. The Night Council election campaign is in full swing and on 5th May the supernatural community votes for its leaders. Visit any supernatural haunt and you'll find people arguing about who to vote for – not to mention the volunteers handing out badges and flyers in an effort to win your support. Try to keep it civil, folks.

3) THE PUBLIC WANTS WHAT THE PUBLIC GETS. (29th April) The Night Council candidates gather in a town hall in Westminster to explain why the supernatural community should vote for them. Traditionally a noisy and raucous event, it's your last opportunity to ~~heckle~~ question the candidates before the election. There are four separate Q&As: first up are the candidates for Shapeshifter/Meta Human representative; then candidates for Witch Representative; then Vice President; then finally the candidates for President will take to the stage. They each make a short speech and then take questions from the audience. Or if you want, you could just turn up for a free meal: in the room next door there's a sandwich buffet plus tea, coffee and fruit juice, so it's a good opportunity to mingle.

4) FIRE FESTIVAL. (1st May) The fire festival of Beltane is a time of celebration for witches, marking the beginning of summer. Come along to the bonfire for music, food and drink, flower crowns and fertility rituals.

5) SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES. (1st May) Beltane is also a time when the barrier between the human world and the Other Realm is at its thinnest, making it easy to pass from one realm to the other by chance. You might even have an encounter with the mysterious and mischievous fae.

6) WHAT'S DONE CANNOT BE UNDONE. You've gone too far, done something you know you'll regret. Maybe you ran away, broke a promise, even committed a crime. Maybe you've been supernaturally transformed. Either way, there's no going back.

7) WHAT ANGEL WAKES ME FROM MY FLOWERY BED? Oh, sweet mortal. There's an enchantment on you that makes you suddenly, devastatingly attractive. Especially to more magical types.

8) CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE. Anything goes.

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Lucky you. You know if you could have held off another week or so, you might have missed this entirely.

[Up in the air if that is actually better—London puts on a very staid face, but politics bring out the dark side of some people.

Most often the politicians.]

So what brings you to town? Back to town, from the sound of it.

There's no help for unfortunate timing.

[ Not that it's that unfortunate. There's no better time to get a feel for a place then when leadership is up in the air.

He'll smile at Natasha's attempt to dig into both his present and past. His accent likely sounds unusual to all ears, but it's unmistakably English of some sort. Unfortunately for anyone trying to place him, there's quite a bit of the colonies built in as well as holdovers from the 18th century. Either way, he seems cheerful enough to engage in this game. ]

Nothing too exciting. Business interests that I've neglected for some time.

[Natasha laughs at his comment, because oh, there really isn't. Sometimes you just are where you are when things happen.

That was what you had to deal with.

Or take advantage of.]

So it's business and not pleasure is what you're telling me.

[ He'll flick his eyes upward and then tilt his face down, laughing lightly. It's not quite an eyeroll, but it's entirely up in the air if he's amused by Natasha's comment or something else. ]

Oh, now that's not fair. What's wrong with finding pleasure in business?

I suppose that depends what you're business is.

[She doesn't take offense as his question, though she raises an eyebrow.]

Have to wonder about your line of work though.

I happen to be a restaurateur.

[ It's the complete truth, if only part of it. Silver doesn't typically divulge anything about the illegal enterprises he's involved with on a first encounter. Well, unless it's that kind of meeting. ]

A restaurateur? That is not what I would have guessed.

[She gestures toward him with her glass.]

I don't get many surprises.

That I can easily believe.

[ Whether he's speaking about Natasha not getting many surprises or his career path is left up in the air. Both might be a likely answer, however. Silver dresses more eclectically than any business owner he's ever met, and Natasha certainly carries the air of one who is never shocked by anything. ]

My curiousity is once again getting the better of me. What would you have guessed?

Natasha glances over him, taking in his hair and his clothes.

I don't know—I can picture a few things. Ever consider joining a band?

[ That gets a real laugh out of him. Silver's been called many things, but never a potential member of a band. He'll reach up and run a hand over his beard, telegraphing thoughtfulness. ]

Some sort of alternative or folk rock, I'd think. Would I look dashing, with a banjo slung over my shoulders?

[ At least he's amused by the picture he'd made. ]

Not that I have the faintest idea of how to play one.

I was picturing a guitar. Banjos seem awful American.

[She might be able to picture it, though mostly her comment had been a joke.]

But you'd cut quite the picture. Maybe you should try it out.

[ Oh, but this was a joke he was willing to run with. Suggesting a banjo had been an unconscious decision, but one that served to leave questions about exactly where he was from in a muddle. ]

If I find myself in need of a change in career, it's something to consider.

You never know when you might need to start over. Always good to have something you can fall back on the restaurants fall through?

[She lifts her chin slightly.]

Not that I doubt your businesses are successful.

Well, I wouldn't want to brag.

[ They're all successful, to one degree or another. Even if success is measured more in what other business moves through the doors than in the ability of the restaurant to generate money by itself. Money laundering is an art. ]

Not that it hurts to have something in reserve, if London proves to be too difficult a market.

I hear it is a rough market. Somehow, I think you already know that though.

[Her gaze stays level on him, considering his face for a long moment before she adds.]

And I think you're doing fine.

The folk rock band will just have to stay a dream.

My dreams of stardom, discovered so suddenly and crushed so soon.

[ He can't avoid rolling his eyes and glancing off to the side, thoroughly amused. Not that it's escaped his attention that his new acquaintance is very good at reading people. Well, either that or good at suggesting something and waiting for the other person to fill in any pertinent details. ]

But you're right, I wouldn't enter a market without knowing something about it. I'm here to explore my competition.

[Maybe a little of both. The two things go together often, at least.]

It's a common story. Boy comes to the city to hit it big only to have his hopes dashed.

[She smiles teasingly.]

So you're just starting out here?

Too common, I'd think.

[ There's very little to be said about coming to a new place and failing. It was not a process Silver had ever found himself emulating. ]

I am. I've never held property in this city, much less set foot in it for many years. Everything's very new and exciting.

[She has to wonder just how long. She has an idea what he is—she'd be able to say for sure if she got the scent of his blood. Fae are tempting in a way humans can't compete with.]

Where are your other businesses, if you don't mind me asking?

[ Well, new and exciting may be an overstatement. It's been at least a century, but Silver makes a point not to count. Whenever he can avoid it, at least. ]

Pubs and cafes, for the most part. A few bed and breakfasts. I've found it useful to keep rooms in places for those within our community. Not everyone is comfortable at the larger hotel chains. [ The whole thing has the feel of being let in to a confidence, but one that reveals little true information. ] Not that London inspires me in that direction.

I imagine that's a competitive industry. All of them. But you know that.

[Natasha raises her glass in a mock salute at that.]

Well, good luck to you. Hopefully your trip is productive.

Can't have too many pubs.

That's what I'm counting on. [ Silver hasn't entirely decided how open he wants to be about ownership, but at the very least a new bar known to be friendly to the supernatural community will generate some interest. Breaking even would be lovely, but not something he's especially worried about in the first year of establishing a new place.

He'll hold out a hand for Natasha to shake. ] John Silver.

[She takes his hand, shaking it with an air of professionalism. Her hand is just a little cool, her grip firm but not overbearing.]

Natasha Romanoff. Nice to meet you.

[She does raise her eyebrow slightly at his name, mostly wondering if it's real. But who is she to judge.]

[ He's not surprised by the grip. One becomes used to the feel of vampires, after a while. His grip is also firm, but he makes no attempt to dominate the handshake or anything ridiculous like that. On raw strength, she could likely overpower him, which makes posturing a bit silly.

Silver raises an eyebrow in return, to match. The name is his in the ways that matter, but she would be correct in assuming it's not a name that would grant anyone power over him. ]

And you, Ms. Romanoff. What's brought you to London, if I may ask? You've heard all about me, and I fear I've dominated the conversation.

You have more interesting things to say.

[Reassuring, isn't it? She says it evenly, calm, making no real effort to convince him that it's true. It's nothing but a verbal parry. Though delivered pleasantly enough?]

The situation back home wasn't one I wanted to stay in. Seemed like a good time to make a fresh start.

Why not here?

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