TEST DRIVE MEME (9)

[trainmasters]

test drive meme

Your character wakes up in a neat bedroom in their team carriage, in nondescript underwear. They might be missing their memories, or their special abilities, or they may just feel a little queasy. Next to them is what seems to be a smartphone, which they know how to use even if they never had before, even if they don't know if they have before. On the screen is a simple message:

Welcome aboard the Aurora!

You have been selected by the Star Prince as a potential hero, tasked with saving the universe from Malice. As a passenger I, your Construct and Conductor, will attempt to provide you with quality lodgings and safety. In return, we ask that you join your fellows in making bonds and doing your utmost to bring joy back to the Stars.

Due to the process of restoring your body, you may find some things are missing. We apologise for the inconvenience and hope to return them to you as soon as possible. Thank you for your cooperation.

★ One
Upon investigation, you'll find some basic clothes matching your team's theme in the storage provided in your room. Or, perhaps, you're wandering out of the room still undressed. Either way, downstairs you'll find someone has left a tray of cups of hot tea on the living room table. Drinking it may be simply pleasant, or it may cause you to feel a sudden need to warm up to the others in your carriage -- emotionally or physically. Welcome to the team, newbie!

☆ Two
Shortly after your arrival, you find yourself wrapped up in some monster NPC's Game. You're inside what appears to be a stone temple, with a massive golden scale on one wall. Suddenly, on one side, a heavy metal weight is dropped. As the scales tip out of balance, the floor begins to slowly disappear, brick by brick, ready to drop you -- and whoever is with you -- into an abyss. Your only hope comes in the form of an inscription on the altar:

How much do your secrets weigh?

Every secret you tell causes a weight to fall onto the other side of the scale. The bigger the secret, the bigger the weight. If you can collectively tip the scales, the floor will quit dropping bricks and a door will appear to allow you back to the train. If you can't, you'll fall, seemingly forever, til you pass out. When you wake up you'll find yourself unable to lie.

★ Three
You've been on the Aurora for awhile, but you've never heard this kind of noise. It's just dawn, and the backdrop of chirping insects and singing birds is smashed through by the screeching of microphone feedback and the twang of an electric guitar being thoughtlessly strummed. After a moment it goes silent, but when you exit the game you find yourself facing a trial. The setting: a dirty dive bar. The goal: serenade the next person to pass in front of you. You have a stage full of rock instruments, and sparks on the line. The more you emotionally affect your target (any kind of emotion -- laughter included) the closer your team gets to winning!

☆ Four
Wildcard. Make up your own prompt! Check out the setting and team pages for info on the train. If you have any questions, ask on the q&a page. Otherwise, apps open on August 8! In the meantime you're free to join us on Discord.

Comments

[schrodingerscockroach]

You can certainly try. [He's also very confident in his abilities.] Though that will also depend on if you can differentiate between 'child' and 'a fairly normal level of concern for another human being' which seems to be a common challenge on the train.

We do have a time theme.

....is numbers normal for your culture, or do I need to judge your parents again?

[time5kip]

I wouldn't just "try".

[ He's aware he no longer has his abilities, so in essence, it's an empty threat. But damn if he's going to say that no, ge wouldn't be able to differentiate the two. ]

You can judge my father for that one. But the way I see it a name is as good as any other.

[schrodingerscockroach]

I'd suggest we had a sparring match before you did try. Unless you've got a lot of other abilities on top of 'accidental age regression,' it's a lot easier for me to not accidentally hurt someone I've fought before.

[Five, this is why you need a mother hen.]

It works as a name, father either pretentious or kind of a dick.

[And here's a plate of eggs.]

[time5kip]

It's the latter. He adopted seven children and couldn't bother to name any of us.

[ He very deliberately ignores that first part, mostly because he still doesn't want to rebeal all his cards yet. He does seem very surprised at the plate of eggs, though, and he stares at it for a moment before he finally just accepts it. ]

Thanks.

[schrodingerscockroach]

[The lack of answers is very telling in a lot of ways. That's definitely a lot of avoidance for control right there.]

Asshole shouldn't be adopting kids then.

[Staring also telling.] ....you're definitely a Clover. [Why this.]

You're welcome. [Gonna make some more for others and himself.]

[time5kip]

[ Wait until you hear more of sir Reginald Hargreeves excellent parenthood methods. He's going to stay quiet as he eats - which is in itself a good sign, since he'd have no qualms saying it's bad if he thought so. He does break the silence eventually, though. ]

Time travel. That's how age regression happens accidentally.

You mentioned you suspect you were caught in it as well ...?

[schrodingerscockroach]

[He's got a list of 'Dads To Punch' and he's always ready to add to it.]

There's a girl here who arrived the same day I did. We both lost our memories, but we have the same necklace, and I'm definitely not a jewelry for the sake of jewelry kind of guy.

We share a lot of thoughts for comfort things. She's got scars to compete with mine despite being at least a decade and a half younger.

And when we got into an accidental fight, I didn't hurt her at all because I instinctively knew how to hold back with her and she knew how to respond. Not the case with others. It was like I knew what she could take right away. And I have other reactions to her that scream familiarity.

All told, it'd be weird if we didn't know each other.

Meanwhile she thinks deep space travel is far off future and sci fi stuff while I've been on at least three seperate colonized planets.

[time5kip]

Hence your suspicion of time travel. It's possible, I suppose, it'd explain why you know her despite those difference.

[ but with the way he says it it's clear he's skeptical and doesn't think that's it ]

Then again, you both lost your memories. It could be anything.

[schrodingerscockroach]

Its the leading theory. And we are remembering things and everything in her memories looks old. The tech, the buildings, the cars.

Meanwhile I've got aliens and ancient tech where even small pieces are arguably of the same worth as a planet and there's maybe ghosts so just enough crazy to believe that comes up.

[time5kip]

You realize that with you having been on several different planets, there's that one as an option as well. She could have hitched a ride upon one of your visits and you could just be from planets that are at different stages of technological advancement.

And that's not even touching upon inter-dimensional travel. Considering we've all found our way here somehow, I wouldn't discard that option either.

[schrodingerscockroach]

Colonized planets. If there's a lack of technology, its from money, not level of tech. It should be shitty tech, not old tech. And space travel should be common place for her.

We lack memories, but we're not gonna think something is normal or abnormal for no reason. Space travel is normal to me, space travel is abnormal for her. That's because that's what we think.

Plus she's remembered an Interpol agent and international is not interplanetary.

And dimensional travel would not negate time travel. That depends on what laws time travel is following, it may be a required for it to happen with parallel timelines or....or.... [he has to stop, putting a hand to his head, closing his eyes because wow, why sudden splitting headache?????]

[time5kip]

For a guy without memories who doesn't actually know if he has ever time traveled you're certainly confident in your knowledge.

[schrodingerscockroach]

Still have skills. Memories are personal, knowledge can be skills. Like I know a lot about AI's.

And some is common sense. For the planet thing to work, one of us would need to not be human, but we are.

And a way to time travel would be dimensional....fuck. [Food off the burner.] One minute, need Advil. [Gonna retrieve medicine stored in the bathroom.]

[time5kip]

[ He's going to just finish his eggs while he's done, also mental note to himself - advil's in the bathroom ]

[schrodingerscockroach]

[Back after a minute, rubbing his temples because ugh, brain, why are you like this. But gonna finish up these eggs because definitely needs to eat himself now.]

[time5kip]

For the record, all I'm saying is that you don't have enough information to put the whole picture together yet. If you settle on one thing now, you'll close yourself to other options. Best not to jump to conclusions.

Regardless, mine's a purely academic interest. I don't actually care.

[schrodingerscockroach]

That is why I said it was the leading theory. Our first was I was ex-military cop who had a rivalry with her vigilante fight club.

Also because you're an infirmation is power sort.

[time5kip]

Can't imagine why you'd think that.

[ Does he mean it or is he sarcastic, you decide ]

[schrodingerscockroach]

Well, I see little reason to hide stuff like that anyway. Either the train rides together or dies together, whether or not the powers that be are using us. Cooperation is how people survive when shit goes bad.

[And gonna put his eggs in some bread.] So, tour?

[time5kip]

No, I'll take a look around on my own. I want to take my time with it, and there's things I need to check first.

Besides. You literally just took a pain killer.

[schrodingerscockroach]

Oh? Like what?

For a headache. Happens on and off, got a bunch of stuff in my brain. Plus the whole point of pain killers is to make sure you can function when pain is being inconvenient. [In his opinion.]

[time5kip]

What do you care?

[schrodingerscockroach]

Because you're my teammate and that basically gets you a crazy amount of loyalty because someone has to make the first move on bonding and that ends up being me a lot.

And fuck it, if regret it, I'll deal with it then.

[time5kip]

You don't know me. Declaring you'll be loyal to me just because I happen to be wearing a pink unicorn onesie right now is a terrible choice.

[schrodingerscockroach]

That's how it is when you're facing the threat of extinction.

You either trust the people beside you are invested in at least not hindering the continuing survival of your numbers or you handicap yourself.

And if they do wish to hinder continued survival, you make sure they can't.

And loyalty isn't like I'll do everything you say. It means I'm invested in your wellbeing and will do what I can to help with that, regardless of whatever past sins you might have committed or whatever other reasons you think I'd have to change my mind.