TEST DRIVE MEME (1)

[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
Outside the train, a large, strangely spinning cube floats over a pedestal, hissing discordantly and shedding strange black light onto the surrounding area. Beyond lies only shadows and slithering noises, a landscape of tangley thorns and eyes that glow in the dark. Your phone says it's noon, but out here it's midnight under a starless sky. As you step into the dark, an alarm blares -- your phone is sending you an alert.

"Goal: clear the area of snakes," it says. "Remember to use the buddy system!"

Soon you realise that the ground just a few feet away is actually writhing in black snakes with crimson eyes. They'll bite if you approach alone, but as long as you're touching another passenger, they're totally docile. You could easily move them away from the clearing, or toss them into the spooky-looking pit at the edge of it.

★ Three
You've been here awhile -- at least, long enough to have made some friends. Currently the TV in the public lounge is playing a weird puppet show, where all the puppets look and act like exaggerated versions of you and other passengers. What kind of person do the puppets think you are? Dramatic? Over-affectionate? Surly?It's all in good fun but it's definitely painting you in a light that, if not unpleasant, is certainly embarrassing.

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

Comments

Luke Cage | Goldenrod

[corny]

One🌺

---

[ he isn't sure how he ended up here, but the last thing he remembers is bushmaster knocking him clean out on the pavement. it doesn't make sense why he would be brought here, but nothing that weirdo does makes any sense so far. he grapples for the phone, but his hands shake as he tries to scroll through it. it's not his phone, none of his contacts are in it, and the people he'd call definitely aren't here (misty, danny, colleen) or they'd surely be causing a raucous. maybe that's what he needs to do.

luke runs out of his compartment, still only clad in gold boxers, and squints out the window. uh... ]

I think there's been a mistake. I'm not a boy wizard.

[ just a superhero with absolutely no idea wtf is going on. ]

Two🌺

---

[ at least here is somewhere he's used to being. he's put on his clothes finally (sorry) which consist of an oversize knit hoodie, slouchy jeans, and two-tone jordans, all in gold. he holds out the MOM ARM to get you to stop at the edge of the snake pit. ]

Just... stay behind me. They can't hurt me.

[ and sure enough as he fjords through the snakes, they snap and even bite at him, but nothing happens. there's a sound almost like their teeth hitting metal and they're momentarily stunned by the strange man with bulletproof skin. luke doesn't stick around to see if they'll keep trying, just pushes forward and protects whoever has been smart enough to listen. he'll go back across as many times as he needs to, shepherding people to and fro and moving snakes out of the way as needed. ]

Three🌺

---

[ he's reluctantly settling into life here, for lack of better options. read: any other options. luke is folded into a chair that ought to be too small for his hulking frame, but with his hood up and his hands in his pockets he looks downright cozy. ]

Wait a minute, is that supposed to be me?

[ he lifts his eyebrows as he watches the puppet who has a vague likeness to him, ripping its shirt off and taking selfies with the locals. "I'M HARLEM'S HERO AND I'M DREAMY," he exclaims in a pitchy puppet voice. luke just groans and buries his face in one massive hand. ]

Wildcard🌺

---

[ luke will be easiest to find in the communal areas, especially the lounge car. he's often sitting in a corner flipping through his smart device like answers might magically appear any moment. but feel free to catch him outside i.e. anywhere, he'll be all over trying to find a way off this train ride. or pm me so we can plot something tailored! ]

One

[half2death]

What do wizards have anything to do with this? [Asks this somewhat scrawny looking sixteen year old with an oversized sweater that certainly doesn't help. He doesn't know what this guy is referencing of course.]

[corny]

[ he startles a little at danny's sudden appearance, but ends up just rolling his eyes at the question. is harry potter already too old for generation z? god, he feels old. ]

Probably nothing. But if this is another human experimentation thing, I'm officially bored.

[half2death]

You would. Be bored if it was human experimentation?

[Danny is no less confused. Thanks Luke.]

[corny]

[ uGHHH his life is so hard. ]

I'm gonna... put on a shirt.

[ he gestures to the compartment he just came out of and pops back inside, but leaves the door open in invitation. he pulls on the gold t-shirt and gold jeans and just kind of stares at them. ]

Is this prison?

[ at least that would be familiar. ]

[half2death]

If this is, its a weird prison. [Danny shrugs.] Cozy too. [A bit on the warm side but he could, probably, deal with it just fine.]

[corny]

Cozy. [ he laughs, a low rumbling sound as he buttons his pants before turning to face danny again. ] I just meant 'cause of the weird matching uniforms, and on account of us being here against our will, but sure.

two

[cadeuces]

( It's funny you'd say that because the moment his arm reaches to protect her, so too is hers shooting out to protect him— it thumps straight across his chest, but does little to stop him from stepping forward into the mass of snakes.

Only they're biting him and he doesn't so much as flinch. Did he have some sort of protective gear on beneath the pants...? She's reaching for him regardless, surging forward to keep pace and attempt to catch his arm and pull him back, but isn't that just the thing?

They stop all irritation or attack attempts once she has ahold of him. )

What... what are you wearing? None of them penetrated?

[corny]

A hoodie.

[ he explains totally helpfully, indeed walking through angela like she isn't in his way at all. but the second she grabs onto him, he gasps - a snake getting too close to her and he's ready to deflect it again with his skin. but then it just stops, looking strangely docile for a moment before shuffling out of their way. ]

Sweet Christmas. [ aka what the goddamn hell ]

[cadeuces]

( When her hand's at his arm, sure enough, it's only flesh beneath the cotton— forgive her the poke down at his knee, once the snakes have calmed and she can test.

No armor beneath that, either. She moves carefully as she wades into the tangled mass of snakes beside him, fingertips light where they curl in the crook of his elbow and anchor there. So his longer strides can't leave her behind and she doesn't stop and strand him in return. )

You're sure you weren't bitten? We don't know if they're venomous or not. You're being reckless pushing on where you can't easily be treated.

[corny]

[ luke jolts a little at the sudden touch, but then he's laughing - there's something he finds funny about her concern. ]

I'm sure. And it wasn't reckless- but more importantly, why aren't they attacking anymore?

[cadeuces]

Hmmmm. ( A dubious sound at best, honestly. ) Is that truly the more important question? I wonder.

I believe I've seen this before— safety in numbers, here. I have seen a couple of others getting across but I hadn't been quite sure how. Were you off to investigate the cube, as well?

[corny]

Yes. This is kind of my job back home, it's no big thing.

[ he's obviously fine so she should drop it!!! but he supposes he understands why people don't, right? it's just such an automatic response for him now sometimes it's hard to go back and explain when he was becoming a household name where he comes from. ]

What cube?

[ he was literally just here to save people from snakes ok ]

three!!

[hissoff]

[ p... PFFFFF sorry buddy but this guy's doubling over in laughter, ]

"I'M HARLEM'S HERO.... AND I'M DREAMY"!! [ mimics in the same high tone between breathless giggles. heave. heave. breathe, okay he's breathing now ]

That's just... haha! Really... it even ripped its shirt off! How cute!!

[corny]

[ he gets a pillow thrown at him for his efforts and a really surly glare from a giant man who somehow looks like he couldn't hurt a fly. ]

I don't take my shirt off when I work.

[ he points to the hood on his head. ]

I wear a hoodie. It's kinda my signature.

[hissoff]

[ fff... hit by the pillow, and he just. wipes away a single tear. ]

You don't-- ff -- you don't? That's disappointing, really.

[corny]

Disappointing? Are you paying attention? I cleaned up Harlem single-handedly.

[ well... ] Okay, I had a little help.

[hissoff]

Yes, yes, that's all very well and impressive, but don't you think it would have been even more impressive if you had accomplished all of this while not wearing a shirt?

[corny]

[ luke actually thinks about that, though the urge to throw another pillow is a strong one - he doesn't. ]

I mean, I'd probably ruin less clothes that way.

three

[obsidien]

Not bloody likely. It's too damned small to be yourself.

[Says the man who towers over Luke so much, he's almost an entire foot taller. And has stopped trying to squeeze himself into a chair made for shorter people, long limbs splayed everywhere on the piece of furniture.]

Hells, that voice is grating! [Then he waves at the screen.] That is a bloody terrible mimicry-- aren't you insulted?

[corny]

He's calling himself Harlem's Hero, pretty sure it's supposed to be me.

[ his eyeroll is good-natured. he doesn't seem all that broken up over it. ]

More like embarrassed. Besides, isn't that supposed to be a form of flattery?

[obsidien]

If flattery is meant to embarrass a person rather than show how much one fawns over another... [The Au Ra shrugs, scales making an audible sound against the fabric of the seat as he moves.] Carry on then. Who only knows you're more like to forgive than I am.

[corny]

There are things in this world worth getting angry about... A puppet show doesn't really rate.

Two

[nihilmancy]

[The slender young woman in Licorice colors looks rather irritated at being brushed aside like that. She follows after him, levitating a few inches off the ground, and seems to have her own way of getting rid of the snakes - she mutters a word and points a finger, and a snake writhes in agony, twitches, and eventually stops moving.

After her initial irritation, she smiles calmly as they reach the other side of the cart, adjusting her glasses.]

Begging your pardon, but I am at least able to take care of some vermin.

[corny]

[ he almost dives back in front of her, but that's when he processes what's happening. ]

You're... like me.

[ it's a little belated. even though he's becoming more used to meeting people with abilities, that doesn't mean it magically stops being surprising. ]

I didn't know, okay? Just doing my job, same as you. [ it wasn't a machismo thing!!! he hates when people assume that. ]