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thetube2016-04-28 09:31 pm
undergroundmods) wrote in thetube2016-04-28 09:31 pm
Entry tags:
Test Drive Meme: April/May 2016
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 tohecklequestion 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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"Food and flowers I suppose," he admits, hesitating before lifting his eyes again. "Although perhaps that means I have been missing other things."
There's a flurry of white fur suddenly by their feet and, on closer inspect, the fur has a face.
"Lily!" Lancelot exclaims, and reaches out to catch the collar of the Samoyed who has rather ruined his attempt to be charming by somewhat out-charming him. She bounces between them, tail wagging, and he laughs helplessly as he persuades her to sit. "Forgive me, she is a little excited by all this. Ah -- Lancelot," he adds, frees a hand up to offer her a little sheepishly.
no subject
The large blur of bounding white fur catches her off-guard but in a joyful way. Lily’s enthusiasm is rather contagious. While Lancelot has had her full attention until now, this furry newcomer easily trumps him.
Much as she wants to drop down closer to Lily and run a hand through that beautiful fur, she knows better. Instead, she stands back and admires the Samoyed from afar, while keeping still, arms hanging loosely at her sides. She’ll let Lily decide when and if she’ll be allowed to touch her.
Once Lancelot offers his hand, she automatically begins to return the gesture, but there’s a hitch in her movement as his name registers with her mind. Lancelot… An old memory rises up at the sound of it, causing momentary hesitation. However, she quickly brushes it aside as unimportant for the moment.
Recovering smoothly, her smile having never faltered, she offers a name in return. “Guenièvre.” It’s not her true name, of course, but rather a French translation she uses in the mortal realm. “Pleased to meet you.”
no subject
"That's a beautiful name," he answers, releasing her so he can keep a hold of Lily. She leans to sniff at the new, mysterious stranger curiously -- sensing something a little different but equally use to the feel of magic from being around Lancelot himself. "Not an English one, I think."
Then again, Lancelot is not exactly the picture of Britishness himself.
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“I recently moved to London from Carhaix-Plouguer.” Her accent probably makes it clear where that is, but in case there is some doubt, she adds, “That’s a small town in northwestern France.”
Guenièvre leans slightly towards Lily. It’s a very small movement, just enough to make it easier for her but not so much as to seem a threat.
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"From France?" Lancelot prompts, "is it a permanent move, or temporary?"
A job, perhaps, or temporary assignment? A family move? He reaches out to touch Lily's snout as she licks at Guenièvre's hand, trying to discourage her from doing it too much.
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“I think that I am here to stay.” At this her smile falters, though she makes a valiant effort to rally it. “Family obligations.”
Soon enough she’ll be the wife of a Seelie knight in the English court, a man she’s known for a long time and does care for but isn’t sure she actually loves. Ah, the joys of an arranged a marriage.
“And what of you?”
Yeah, she’s going to divert the conversation elsewhere as quickly as she can. This particular familial obligation is not something she wants to think about, never mind discuss with a stranger. The major driving force behind attending this festival was a desperate need to have fun on her terms, however and with whomever she pleased. That freedom will be gone soon enough.
“Your name is rather…not English as well. And quite uncommon, I believe.”
So uncommon, in fact, that she’s only heard it once before, assuming her memory is not playing tricks about that. Were this years ago, she’d also say he doesn’t look very British. But what British looks like has changed a lot in recent years, making it harder to judge such things.
no subject
"Lance is common, Lancelot less so I suppose. But no, you're right. I wasn't born here. Moved here when I was young. So I've been here long enough to give advice on all the best places, I suppose. How do you like London?"
After all, he does not know how busy the part of France she appears to be from is. Perhaps it is close enough to a city to be comparable, but perhaps London is noisier. He doesn't remember much about life before London to compare, himself. Yet he does know, from helping enough tourists, that it can be overwhelming to those less used to it.
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“Well, London is clearly no Paris but still not entirely without charm,” she observes with mock pretentiousness before dropping the act to laugh. “Actually, I have been quite enjoying the city so far. Though surely I have overlooked some places. Perhaps I should find myself a guide...”
Guenièvre risks reaching down to gently pet Lily. “This lovely lady wouldn’t happen to be available for personal tours, would she?”
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Lancelot laughs, bright and honest.
"I am sure she would be a good guide if your hope was to visit all the best places dogs are allowed, of course. All the places she gets the best scraps of food, and the best dog toys."
Of course, those are her favourite places! They are places everyone should wish to visit! Lancelot smiles wryly as Lily soaks up the attention. She's very good at charming people, better than he is it seems.
no subject
“Hmmm. Well, that sounds lovely for her but…not exactly what I had in mind.”
Guenièvre looks down, raising an eyebrow in response to Lily’s hovering paw. If it ends up on her, she won’t fuss. A little bit of fur or dirt on her sundress isn’t the end of the world. It’ll brush off or wash out easy enough. Besides, she’s dealt with the messiness of having a boggart “pet.” Nothing Lily might do could ever compare. Probably.
“I suppose that I will need to find someone else,” she muses. “Someone familiar with London who would be willing to play tour guide to a newcomer for an afternoon.” She looks back up, directly at Lancelot. “Or an evening.”
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"I might know someone who could help," he allows, "although I can cannot promise them to be as good as a true tour guide."
After all, Lancelot is hardly an encyclopedia of British history. He can navigate himself well, but he'd have to resort to google for plenty of things.
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“Well, in that case, please let this someone know that I would be perfectly content to experience one small part of London. Say some place he finds personally worth visiting?”
Seeing a city through the eyes of a local is far more fascinating than the stodginess of most “proper” tours.