Test Drive Meme: December 2016/January 2017

[undergroundmods]

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MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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) STAY ANOTHER DAY. Maybe it's just for the holidays, but if you've come to London to reconnect with friends and family, now is the time to make the most of it. And it turns out, someone is pretty keen for you to stick around. Your loved ones? Or perhaps you've been noticed by one of London's supernatural factions. Don't go just yet, friend. The city may need you.

2) CHRISTMAS DAY / BOXING DAY. (25th-26th December) Whatever you think of Christmas, it's everywhere in London. Christmas songs on the radio, Christmas lights in the streets, carol singers, and presents under the tree. Of course, in the supernatural world, the presents may just have a magical twist. What's that strange little gift from an unknown sender...?

3) NEW YEAR'S EVE FIREWORKS. (31st December) The New Year's Eve fireworks display is always spectacular. Count down to midnight with Big Ben, then watch the spectacle along with the crowds. Or you could stay at home and watch it on TV.

4) STRANDED. Your flight got cancelled. A storm delayed your train home. The hotel made a mistake with your booking and now you have nowhere to stay. Whatever the reason, you're stuck in London with nowhere to go and it is cold. Depending on where you've ended up, it might be dangerous as well. Are your kind welcome here?

5) DRINK YOUR SORROWS AWAY. Look, it's winter, it's dark, not everyone is having a good time. Might as well buy a drink... and another... and another...

6) NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION. Goodbye 2016, hello 2017. New year, new you. You've decided to make a change, maybe for yourself, maybe for the entire supernatural community. How are you getting on?

7) CALL A TRUCE. The holidays are a time of peace. Maybe just this once you can have a drink with an enemy and put aside any bad blood.

8) CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE. Anything goes.

Comments

[nightflowering]

"As if you're one to talk." Lan's smile is the sort she uses for her own kind; a little too toothy for most mortals to appreciate, but it's all the more honest for it. "Now, before we get down to the hard business of whatever has brought you 'round, may I be a good host and offer you something to eat? I've all the usual and some particularly fine spiced rum that I picked up on my last little jaunt south."

She gestures that Eames is welcome to come properly into the store itself and have a seat. For good or ill, he's always interesting.

[baisant]

As it just so happens, something that could be classified as beautiful (in the eyes of some at least) has found its way past the front window of her shop. Jean-Claude isn't certain he's ever seen it before, but he's not exactly in the habit of stopping at every storefront he passes by, so it's quite possible he might have missed it until this point.

Thus he makes his way inside the store and begins to poke around at the various items on display. He wonders what sort of a shop this truly is, one of curiosities perhaps? It seems much more than simple antiques, he notes, as he spots what seems to be a stuffed and mounted jackalope on the wall. He smiles at the sight of it, tilting his head slightly to the side as he considers where anyone might be able to find a place for such things in their everyday life.

[ooc: I WOULD BE HAPPY TO EDIT IF WE'D PREFER FOR THEM TO KNOW EACH OTHER!! if so, let's hash it out!]

[nightflowering]

Not everyone needs a jackalope, but those that do, simply can't live without one. Or so believes Lan.

"Welcome, welcome," she calls out from the back of the store as she makes her way up to the front until she's able to see Jean-Claude. Curious, she cocks her head to one side as colours flash and ripple over her skin while she decides how best to proceed. "Come in. I don't believe we've met."

Glinda Upland | Wicked | Witch

[itwasrhetorical]

Stranded/Drink your Sorrows away

The petite blond huffed as she lugged a trunk behind her, wobbling in her heeled boots. Stuck in London. Overnight no less. Those tubes would be the death of her one day. Glinda scowled furiously. Her curls were topped with a bobbled hat to protect her from the snow. "Next time--" She huffed. "--read the app before you leave the house, Glinda." The witch grumbled to herself. If only she'd taken the moment she wouldn't be in the position of trying to find somewhere to sleep in the middle of London nearing the Witching hour. The unfortunate witch gave a shriek, nearly slipping on the icy street, grabbing onto a street lamp for stability.

"Oh fluff this!" Anywhere would have to do. Glinda hoisted the trunk up from the floor and hauled it to the nearest doorway. She was out of place in a dingy ale-house like this but it would have to door. "Please tell me you serve some kind of wine other than red or white." She implored the bartender.

[baisant]

Jean-Claude turns to reply to the voice greeting him and is struck momentarily speechless in response to the vision she makes. He does not know that he has ever seen a creature quite like her, although one breath of the air that follows her through the store tells him that she is fae. He supposes that makes sense, considering how taken he is by her. He must be on his guard, here. It is too easy for a vampire to lose themselves to one of such as herself.

"I do not believe we have," he replies smoothly, after collecting himself for a moment. "I am certain that I would have remembered you if we had."

[nightflowering]

"In that case, please, call me Lan. If your hands are cold, I can offer you tea." It's not a fulsome offer of hospitality, but given that she is not about to offer him his usual food it's the best she can do. "Now, what are you looking for? And please, be as vague or metaphorical as you might like."

MEGAN HILTY!

[stauncherhearted]

Every once in a while, Nancy came to work in a bar. Vampire clients got to be so incredibly draining, and it was getting harder and harder to work when her boyfriend was increasingly in the public eye. Sometimes a few normal humans were good for some quick cash.

Or at the very least, their wallets.

Nancy was sitting at the bar when the door blew open, bringing with it a bright light of- oh, blonde and pink. Naturally, she followed the other woman as she approached the bar, a few seats away from Nancy. Taking a sip of her gin, Nancy watched as the girl tried to order some sort of wine.

"If you do half-white and half-red it comes out near-enough to rose," she calls to the bartender, then gives the woman a small smile. Look at her, trying to help a stranger.

A stranger that she could tell, was magic.

:D she is a delight

[itwasrhetorical]

Oh Lurline the merciful. Glinda's face twisted in dismay. She didn't often drink. But if she ever needed one it was tonight. Pull yourself together girl, she firmly told herself, straightening her back and jutting her little chin. Glinda was a well-bred Witch and came from new money. She wasn't about to let herself look badly in front of what was almost certainly a mildly rough crowd.

"Gin and tonic it is then." She sighed before glancing towards the young woman had offered up her suggestion. "Thank you, my dear, but I think that might be a little much for this early in an evening." Glinda slipped up onto the barstool, hoiking the trunk beside her and keeping a mindful hand on it's lid. Wouldn't do to have her things stolen.

Reynard the Fox | original character inspired by fables and folk stories

[smugfox]

NEW YEAR'S EVE FIREWORKS.

[Most people enjoy the displays and pretty colours on a dark night sky might appeal to Reynard as well. However, his hearing is excellent, his ears are sensitive. The smell of it all doesn't help either.

So it's not surprising that - for once - he's rather subdued, sitting on the sidewalk and watching the sky with suspicion as he leans back against the wall, hands protectively lifted to his ears.]


DRINK YOUR SORROWS AWAY. / CALL A TRUCE. / HE'S JUST AT A BAR, WHATEVER.

[Much more in his element, Reynard tends to be centre of attention in any bar he's in, right until the fights break out, which is usually when he slinks away. Being an instigator is a lot more fun than actually getting bruised.

Right now he's inviting everyone to another round, walking around and greeting some like long lost friends, although it's hard to tell if he even knows any of them. What does it matter?

He also doesn't have any money, but that hardly matters either.]

What will you be drinking then?


[ooc: Reynard has been in game before, so feel free to recognise him and whether or not there's pre-established CR, I am VERY, VERY happy to assume it! If you want to discuss things, PM the journal or hit me up on reineke]

[stauncherhearted]

"Good choice," Nancy smirks. She was fan of drinking her gin straight, without the need for tonic or limes.

"Though if you really wanted a rose, I'm sure the Tesco's got some." In a can, even. They really did little to try to curb alcoholism here.

[instagramfamous]

Resolutions? That makes Charlie pause a moment. What does she want from this year? To stay young and beautiful? That's a given, of course. Being immortal certainly does have its perks.

"Not that I can think of, actually," she replies just as faux-conspiratorially. "I'm terrible at keeping them anyway. I just want to have a good time."

She smiles thinly.

"And you? What do you want out of 2017?"

No one is paying attention to them right now, not with their smiles firmly in place and their voices dropped low. It's time to cut the shit.

Jason Schuyler | Anita Blake | Shapeshifter

[pomme_de_sang]

DRINK YOUR SORROWS AWAY

Karaoke was, apparently, a pretty common thing in English pubs. Or, at least, it seemed to be pretty popular in the pubs that Jason found himself in. And here, in the week before Christmas, this pub was doing a special Christmas hits and various Christmas songs karaoke.

But given the current song that was being sung? Jason had grabbed his phone and looked up the lyrics, sitting back against the bar with his eyebrows raised. "Wait. Seriously. THAT'S a Christmas song in this country?"

CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE
Got an idea? Give Jason a poke!

[falsify]

"Are we talking big dreams like 'the dissolution of the monarchy' or the little ones like 'finally throw out my old jeans'?" Kathryn's smile stays firmly in place, easy and bright and so, so good for endearing her to mortals.

Of course Charlie isn't one, but that doesn't mean the smile is going anywhere. She hums, tapping her lip thoughtfully for a moment, and looks out at the crowds, "I'm not planning to ruin your gig, if that's what you're worried about." And she winks for good measure, "not this year anyway."

happy new year jerk

[falsify]

[Eames is here to watch the fireworks, he's always found a weird kind of joy in the celebrations the mortals have. The ways they mark the passage of time even though most of them will never know what it really means to see change in their short lives.]

[So colour him surprised to see Reynard out and about-- he knows how acute the old fox's hearing is, he can't possibly enjoy this kind of thing. Eames changes course to walk towards him, crouching in front of him with a very amused look on his face.]

You know, most people's hearing gets worse with age.

Pitch Black | Rise of the Guardians | Unseelie Fae

[closetshark]

Drinking/Truce

Pitch is having a drink, not because he's sad or having a bad time, but because dark moody weather is the best time to sit back with a glass of wine and watch the lights of the city pass by. He's a pale man in a black on black suit, though there's a golden tie-pin in the shape of a horse as a single spot of color on his outfit.

He gestures at the empty chair across from him with a faint smile when approached. "Please, sit. They have a very good selection here."

not bringing her, but I had to.

[wickedestwitch]

Dingy ale-houses are one of the best places to be, usually they don't have blasts from the past walking in the front door.... or playing bartender. Elphaba may not be green (at the moment) but there's no mistaking her for anyone else even without it.

"I would be lying if I said that." She said after a moment, putting down a glass anyway. "We do have whiskey though, and I make a pretty good rum and coke."

I'm assuming they've met already; lmk if this doesn't work!

[excrucior]

Sitting and people-watching has always been a favorite of Micheletto's - it told you everything you needed to know about a person without having to speak to them yourself. But in this case, he was the watched. And he didn't like it. He never liked being in a spotlight the way he was now.

He advances to the table almost like a startled cat, his muscles tensed and the hair on the back of his neck raised. He wouldn't call it fear, exactly... more like wariness. But Micheletto does sit when told, his blue eyes still locked on Pitch.

"What do you want?" He asks crisply, coolly, his expression more dour than usual.

Legit

[closetshark]

"A chat. To... what's the phrase, 'catch up'? I mean you no harm tonight." Pitch drawled, rolling his eyes and gesturing for a menu. "I figure I should at least buy you a drink, even if you have been of age for a while now. Besides, what better to talk over than some drinks?"

There's a silent 'son' at the end of that, paired with a raised brow and sip of his own drink.

Re: Legit

[excrucior]

"Tonight? So you mean to harm me, then?" His fingers clench into fists on the table, refusing to take the menu just yet. "I've poisoned enough drinks in my time not to trust a free one."

He pauses, uneasily surveying Pitch for a few moments, before adding, "Promise me, then. Promise me that you will not harm me as long as you are in London." Micheletto knows that provides a giant loophole were he to leave London himself, but he isn't planning on it any time soon.

[cabins]

Laura eyes the man in the monochromatic suit carefully. Fae- she can smell it on him.

"Why do you think I came in?" She asks him, her accent American. She looks at him over the top of her glasses, but takes a careful seat. She has nothing against the fae, personally. It's the vampires that have her ire.

"Sure you don't mind having a glass with a stranger? I'm sure someone's on their way to join you."

Re: Legit

[closetshark]

Pitch chuckles at the mention of poison. "If I wanted you dead or harmed you already would be, Micheletto. I do not."

He stares back at the other man for just as long. "I can't read the future. You and your little friends might decide to attack me at some point and then I will have to harm you and them to defend myself. You lot can break as many promises as you want, I can't so no. I will not promise you more than tonight."

[closetshark]

"You're all mostly strangers, even to each other." He shrugs, "I have no idea who is coming to join me until they take a seat at the table. I cannot read the future, only make estimated predictions."

He can read fear, and even that is limited to the present and can be interfered with if someone knows the right precautions.

[excrucior]

"Mick," he corrects, but says no more, partly due to the fact that such phrasing is eerily similar to something he's said before. Even so, such phrasing from a fae was quite straightforward - If I wanted you dead or harmed you already would be. He wondered briefly what the catch was, there. Fae always had a catch, even the dumb ones. And he knew this faerie was not dumb.

"Until dawn, then." He counters, wanting a concrete timeline for his safekeeping. "And I have no friends, little or great. The last two near-friends I had died five hundred years ago." And it was true - in a sense. Cesare had gained unlife just before his assault on Forlì, and Machiavelli had died just before 1530. It had truly been a shame to lose such a wise man. He sometimes wondered what Niccolò would think of all these petty supernatural politics.

[cabins]

Fae were the strangest of all creatures, of that Laura was certain. She eyes him carefully. "Alright."

She didn't relax into the chair, however, merely held out her hand. "Laura. And what may I call you?"

[closetshark]

"I go by Mister Black these days." He smiled, fingers lacing together. "It is a pleasure to meet you Laura, what do you do in this city if you do not mind my asking."