Test Drive Meme #1

[vivalamods]

TEST DRIVE #1

The day begins as any other, you’re going about your day, living your life, when, without warning, you feel the world around you shift on its axis. You feel a great tear, welling from the depths of your soul as you are ripped from all you have known. If you’re lucky, you arrive in the wilderness of an unfamiliar world, where the language is foreign and the people are hostile. To make your escape, you must learn some language, flee, and occasionally fight, all to find your way off the floating isles you find yourself on and to the great ocean below, where rebel forces will welcome you.

If you’re unlucky, you materialize within a room full of armed guards and are quickly subdued with charged nets, stripped of your belongings, fitted with strange devices that suppress your powers and pressed into servitude. Your days are unimaginable pain and toil.

Fortunately, even in this world, there is still hope. For the denizens of this world have not given up. And it is for that dream of salvation that the Crimson Corsairs raise their flags and sail - for liberation. Perhaps you are one who has lived their entire life under the oppressive yoke of the Empire. Perhaps you have seen first hand your family and friends cut down by nobles hunting men for sport, or perhaps you have run afoul with the church and barely escaped with your life. No matter your origin, the Corsairs sail for you, for your freedom, for your life. And today, a taste of freedom will be won for all.


ARRIVAL/LIBERATION
This month, the Crimson Corsairs raided a Larendt labor camp in order to obtain much-needed parts and textiles as well as liberate another batch of servants for the cause. The raid was executed under the cover of night, with one team sweeping the dormitories and gathering as many servants as they could while the other team hit factories as they could, focusing on taking important items like ship parts and clothing, loading them into prepared trams and fleeing before the guard could mobilize. The operation, thankfully, went off without a hitch, and the Corsairs were able to usher a number of servants into their waiting ships.

As dawn breaks, the raiding fleet docks at Flotsam as the city-fleet begins the long journey away from the continent before a retaliation fleet can be mobilized. The former servants are finally let above deck. The sun is beating down hard on them, its brilliance marking their first step into freedom.

Corsairs on the fleet will have a lot to do - the new arrivals will need to be sorted, clothed, and fed. Many are emaciated from the conditions in the labor camp, and the former servants will be immediately ushered to a mess hall for their first meal as free folk. Corsairs will be needed to organize the movement, prepare and serve the food, and also just sit with them and talk to them, helping them adjust and filling them in on the situation.

Former servants will have found the entire process exhausting to say the least. They were awoken in the dead of night by heavily armed people quickly moving through, shattering their chains and ushering them into ships. The entire night was spent sailing, and while the hull is dark it is crowded and difficult to sleep in. Finally, upon arrival they are ushered into a meal hall and served a humble meal - but a meal that far exceeds anything that was ever served at the servant’s table. What is known is that they are now free.


MEANWHILE IN THE WATERLOGGED ROW…

With another successful mission under their belt and their duties more or less complete, the triumphant Corsairs observe a time-honored tradition: heading to the Waterlogged Row and getting absolutely shitfaced on awful grog.

The mood is jubilant and self-congratulatory, with drinking songs ringing out across Flotsam. In consideration to other residents, the Row is currently moored a good distance from the residential areas to keep the celebrations from disturbing what little peace there is in the chaotic town that is Flotsam. But for those who participated in the mission, tonight is about celebration. Singing, storytelling, socializing, this is the glue that holds the operations team together. And as the Crimson Corsairs do not officially recognize a drinking age, everyone is welcome! Even if they probably shouldn’t be!

New arrivals are, of course, not at all restricted so those who finish their meal and go exploring will quickly find the Row, as well as many Corsairs eager to buy them a pint to toast their newfound freedom.


MAKING THE GOOD STUFF

Elysium often serves as the crux of Corsair operations, and the next operation is no different. While the operations team is carousing and toasting their success, the planning team is hard at work preparing for the next mission.

The order of the day is gathering, which has brought the team to the forests outside of Elysium. In the coming month, Elysium will host a lavish party for the guards of a certain continent, and it is the duty of the gatherers to ensure that any drink served is “enhanced”, with such potency that they won’t be in any position to do their duty when the raiders strike.

Any herbology specialists will be absolutely vital for this operation. While the Corsairs have some documents and know, generally, what they’re looking for, there are a wide variety of things that grow within the forest, many of which can be quite dangerous.

Those new to gathering will really need to watch their step. Elysium is rich in hallucinogens, and a whiff of the wrong flower or mushroom could leave them contemplating their navel for the next hour. Tasting is out of the question, but what they don’t know can’t hurt them right? After all, the Elysium workers spend a lot of time eradicating poisoned growths to keep wandering nobles safe so anything they find can’t be THAT bad. Right?

And of course, for experienced foragers, they will find an entirely new duty thrust upon them - keeping the newbies in line. Really, how can they expect anything productive to be done when they send a bunch of green recruits into a forest full of hallucinogens?


EDUCATION AS THE BOMBS FALL

New Corsairs almost always find themselves in the Vault. Nestled in the earth and subject to the constant pounding of munitions overhead, the Vault is the repository of knowledge for the Crimson Corsairs and the place where new inductees are educated. Language instruction, education on the world and its people, writing, reading, arithmetic, just about any kind of learning can be done in the Vault’s halls.

Notable about the Vault’s education is how deeply tied it is to the Crimson Corsair’s broader philosophy - everyone’s unique talents and insight have value. As such, Corsairs are often called to the Vault to share their specialized expertise. While many Corsairs do choose to become full-time teachers, any Corsair can come and teach a class.

For the new Corsairs, now is a time to learn and train, acclimate themselves to their situation and figure out where they want to go from here. For established Corsairs, this is an opportunity to meet the new recruits and help train them so they can help with the cause. Those who might be students today will be comrades standing at your side tomorrow, so teach them well.


DANGER AT SEA

As the most mobile of the Corsair’s settlements and the only obvious Imperial target, Flotsam is well equipped to deal with any number of dangers. One such danger is the enormous sea monsters who dwell within the Eternal Ocean. While many are not too keen to tangle with such a large fleet, occasionally a monster will become angry or territorial enough to try to attack the fleet.

And it is for that reason that the Corsairs now find themselves battling a massive sea serpent that has stretched itself across the western edge of the fleet. New Corsairs aren’t expected to assist in this battle, but as the sinking of Flotsam would be VERY BAD for those who are currently trying to live on it, many will jump in anyway, especially as they should have been issued weapons. As to established Corsairs, well, you know the drill by now. Monster bad, try to sink ship, let’s convince it that there are easier marks than the pride of the Corsair fleet.

Some Corsairs will need to man the cannons to blow it away, but many will get up close and personal, jumping into melee range to drive it away from the ships and mitigate as much damage as they can. Others still will provide support from the back with magic or ranged weaponry, and still others will need to weave their way in between the battle to carry out wounded Corsairs for medical attention. Whatever your specialty, your city needs you. Best get to work.


WILDCARD

Have an idea for your own prompt? Feel free to make any prompt that you think would fit!

OOC
Welcome to the first Test-Drive Meme for Viva La! All threads here may be considered canon once characters have entered the game. Threads here are eligible for use as a roleplay sample for applications, which will open on the 15th of June at midnight.

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Tandy Bowen | Marvel's Cloak & Dagger | OU

[hopeytouchything]

Arrival

Tandy Bowen was very good at being where she did not belonged. She was also sort of used to being dragged places by powers beyond her control.

She dusted herself off and surveyed the woods she was in. Entirely foreign to anything she'd seen before. The air was wrong for anywhere in the U.S. Same with the plants, it was all just slightly wrong. Then she did what she always did when the universe played with her like this, she drew her knife.

Well, drawing suggests a sheath, summon is more accurate. A gemstone of pure blinding white light in her hand. Her powers worked, so she wasn't in the spirit world again. And even if Ty wasn't here, she and he were still connected. “Okay Tandy, we find Ty and go home. He can get us home.”

Then she pressed into the woods.

Waterlogged Row

(OOC: Tandy's going to try to read anyone's hopes when she touches them. If you don't want her to read them, her powers will just fail because Ty isn't around and that messes up her powers. Or grab her by the wrist without touching her skin when she gets close.)
Tandy had not made herself known to Flotsam as she found her way there. Resorting to old habits. Tandy is many things. Half of a Set. Dancer. The Embodiment of Hope.

But for this, she's a thief.

She stowed away on a vessel, stole herself a hat and jacket, and made her way into the floating town. She speaks the language enough, but not so much she feels comfortable talking. With that tidbit in mind she shut up. Resorting to another old habit.
She wasn't picking pockets, exactly. But she's cute, and harmless looking, and a flirty glance with a gentle touch gets you far. Especially a touch that reads the deepest hopes of a person.

It isn't working every time, which is a concern she'll need to worry about later. But it gives her a general sense of what she's dealing with. Especially with how many hopes are built on freedom. People hoping for something so basic is never, ever a good sign.

Education - 1

Tandy has never actually been dumb. She plays dumb, boys like it when you're just a little unaware. Let them explain basic things while your flirty touch gains you a wallet. A watch. A keycard. So now that she's gotten the lay of the land she's going to do the boring bit.
Research.

She's got a small notebook as she copies over whatever feels relevant about how this place works. Her papers lit by the light eminating from her palm. Ty had always been a little more reserved using their powers in public. That wasn't her, and her palm was a good source of light to read by.

She occasionally takes a break to listen to others talk about things, figure out what the local lingo is, better settle in. Better pass for ‘normal.’ She's not, but being able to move around unworthy of concern is another talent she'd desperately like back.

Education - 2

Her eyes hurt from reading, and her head hurt from waiting. So Tandy decided to blow off some steam. She was in the target range throwing daggers.

Dagger being the best term for the small long gemstones of light she made, which easily cut through… well, anything really. Also being made of light they didn't really get influenced by air resistance or gravity. So her accuracy was incredible.

And she didn't have to collect them from the targets, once they hit they just… faded away. And reappeared in her hand. It was hard to tell if the look in her eye was focus, or frustration.

In truth, Tandy didn't know either.

Waterlogged Row

[transrobotism]

I want to be human. I want to feel emotion like humans do. Real emotion. I want to be human. I want to be--

Well, it's not someone hoping for freedom, verbatim. But the sedate, recently recruited young woman who looks perfectly human has one hope, and one hope alone.

She smiles brightly at Tandy as she finishes handing her a wrapped package of food, heedless to the deeper effect their small brush of hands had in the handover.

"That should do you for lunch. If it's too little, come back and tell me. This is my first day helping, so pardon me as I get the hang of things."

[hopeytouchything]

Tandy's visions were more image and subtlety than they were direct. But the message was pretty clear. Comparing the woman in front of her, and the woman she hoped to be.

Tandy has seen some messed up hopes, the hopes to hurt people, hopes built on bodies and ruined lives. Wanting to belong, well, what could be more human than that desire?

So naturally Tandy's face softens, finding enough to trust in here. A good place to start in all this. Plus there's food.

"Thank you," Tandy's keeping her voice low. Still aware her speech isn't that of the others here, "Your first day? So you wouldn't know how often people end up here? Or what here is?"

[transrobotism]

"Hm..."

"Not too often... I think. But I don't know a lot; it was news to me when I was invited. I did come with a group. I would say... the people here like to be helpful to others, so... you can think of it as a safe place, as long as you're nice to them, too."

[hopeytouchything]

"Oh, sorry. I meant here as in 'this world' not 'this bar.'" Maybe it was the language thing, Tandy is speaking her natural American English and not trying to coax her words into the 'olde englishe' that seems to be what people speak here.

Tandy won't comment on safe places, there isn't such a thing. Well, she had one, but he wasn't here. "I'm Tandy."

[transrobotism]

RPK's equipped with quite a few language libraries, and while the native language wasn't one, it did give her a leg up. The longer they talk, though...

She quietly slips into English without making a fuss; her own accent's definitely Slavic.

"So, a fellow outworlder! Hee, hee. Nice to meet you, Tandy. I'm Pandora. You must have come in somewhere unusual. I've heard it happens, sometimes."

She glances past Tandy's shoulder, and wordlessly starts putting together another meal package. She clearly wants to keep talking, though.

"I've actually been in this world for... Seven and a half months? Probably! Unfortunately, up until recently I was in the Empire's care... they're known for stealing new people into this world all the time to replenish their workforce due to, ah, a high rate of attrition."

Waterlogged

[freearcadia]

I want my ship back - I want my best friend back, I need to free him, return to the sea of stars with him...

Harlock looked about as scared as they come, as he put a hand out without thinking to steady her when a ripple in the crowd nearly knocks the both of them off their feet as people filtered in and out of pubs and watering holes. "Sorry, looked like you were about to fall." He apologized, his voice accented, a little rough - clearly not a native speaker.

[hopeytouchything]

A man on his ship, free to go where his will takes him. Not the most altruistic of hopes, but it's not terrible. Does she trust him, no. But he isn't from around here, and that's enough to be worth exploring.

"Thanks, guess I'm still not used to all of, well, this," Tandy gestured to the room. The rollick and festivity of it all. Moving her hand from his as she stands up. She'll play into being weak, letting her youth be her mask for this one. She's speaking a more modern English still, having not learned the local dialect just yet, "You're also not from here?"

[freearcadia]

Modern to her, slightly archaic to his ears. Relieved, he switches to speaking in English, though it's clear it's not his first language given the rather strange accent, but clearly one he's far more comfortable speaking in. "I'm not, only been recently liberated from those damned camps. Admittedly, this place is a little more like home, reminds me a bit when I had my crew."

"Guessing this isn't quite your scene."

[hopeytouchything]

"Camps?" Tandy had landed in the woods, not the city. So that's a new thing to find out about. Her to-do list keeps getting longer. At least he speaks English.

"Not exactly, I prefer night clubs to bars." It wasn't a truth that gave enough away about her, at least from her view. "And with the short notice I'm hardly dressed for the occasion."

In her jacket just a bit too big to try and hide her foreign clothes.

[freearcadia]

"I guess you got liberated elsewhere, we were in prison camps." Some working to the bone, some like him getting worked over, though he makes note of her question. "Somehow, I don't think this place has a dress code." His point seem to be made by the sudden burst of cheers as someone's underclothes went flying up a short distance away, Harlock doesn't seem to pay much attention to what was going on over there.

Waterlogged Row

[knowhyoucry]

I must be allowed to complete my mission.

The big man turns and regards her with a blank expression. The gentle touch and flirty looks appear to be eliciting no reaction from him one way or the other.

"Do you require assistance?" There's an accent but only a bit of one. Analyzing and adapting to the new language hadn't been overly taxing.

[hopeytouchything]

Well that's not an ominous hope to find in a guy who is roughly the size of a jeep. In a guy who seems to have no idea how to have fun. She'll just back away slowly now.

"I think I'm good, thanks."

[knowhyoucry]

Some signs of distress? What was the purpose of approaching it if only to immediately back away? It turns to look at her, and decides that some de-escalation is in order, using what John had taught it prior to its abduction.

And if someone seems upset, you say, "Chill out!". Or you can do combinations.

"Chill out. Baby." Given the connotations of "Dickwad", the T-800 judges that particular turn of phrase would be ill-advised, and that what it takes to be a term of endearment stands a greater chance of defusing the situation. Its utterly emotionless delivery and lack of any kind of expression as it does so clearly don't factor in.

waterlogged row

[stophamatime]

I want to find Mom's killer. I want revenge. And then --

There doesn't seem to be much of a plan after revenge, actually. Just a void, and a sense that after that nothing really matters anymore.

The boy it's coming from is younger than most of the locals, though -- eleven, give or take? Despite that, he's going about his business with plenty of purpose, carrying an armload of supplies on his way to somewhere or other.

"Oof, sorry -- didn't mean to run into you!"

[hopeytouchything]

You know- it doesn't matter the reasons, how good they are. It's real unsettling to see in a kid's hopes and find murder. Not that- you know, she was any better at his age. But it's still not what she was expecting.

"It's my fault." Well, it's the truth. She's not speaking the local dialect, instead speaking American English, "They have kids working here? Isn't this a bar?"

[stophamatime]

Oof. The language. It's not completely unfamiliar, since he's heard other arrivals speak similarly, but it takes him a little more effort to parse.

"It...doesn't really matter, does it? Work still needs doing."

He doesn't have much interest in the product, even if there was an enforced drinking age. People lose their wits a little too easily once they start drinking, and he has no desire to impair his own judgment when he never knows when might be the crucial moment.

[hopeytouchything]

"Work still needs doing," she agrees, using the words he'd used briefly to parrot back, but she slips into a more broken form of the local dialect after. "Is how work camps start. Why matters."

She was free to do what she wanted, and she choose to do good. Or- okay she choose to do the right thing, which occasionally involved destroying things and stabbing people. "So why are you working here?"

[stophamatime]

"I don't have anywhere else to go. The Empire is awful. So..." He shrugs. "Whatever I can do to help around here is better than being out on the streets somewhere else."

waterlogged

[nolo]

There's just enough time for something hopeful to start rising out of the touch before Michinaga's hand suddenly snaps out to grab her wrist and break the contact. It's not a hard grip, but it is firm enough to hold her in place if she doesn't fight it. Michinaga has never been great about casual touch to begin with, and spending the last while involved in what were essentially endless death games hasn't done much for that but improve his reflexes.

At least his expression when he turns to look at her is decidedly unimpressed, but without any real suspicion. Or at least no more than he has for anyone else in the building at the moment.

"You need something?" He's not great with the local language yet, but he can manage a few things here and there.

[hopeytouchything]

"No. Getting by. Crowded." She's equally bad with the local language, She can only make her best effort, and it isn't great. She tried to pass her movements off as accidents when she could, incidents when she couldn't.

She's not showing any fear being caught, honestly her face is more defiant than anything else. Stealing a look at hopes isn't quite the crime stealing a wallet is. So for most she didn't do anything wrong except invade a stranger's personal space.

She glances at her wrist, she's not fighting to get free, but being contained isn't quite her idea of a good time. "Let go?"

[nolo]

Something about that blatant defiance gets an arched eyebrow, no reason to get defensive if it's an honest mistake. But it's not like Michinaga has anything to actually accuse her of, and her equally fumbling attempts at the language make him suspect she shouldn't be here any more than he should. Maybe it makes him softer than usual. Maybe he's just tired.

He stares her down as he keeps the grip a moment longer, just to make his point, before letting go. "Keep hand to yourself." Really, getting touchy with strangers is just asking for trouble, Michinaga himself aside.

[peasantofmanyfaces]

It would be nice to relax as a cow again. Or a bird, that's nice too. Ah, I've wore so many faces, even killed and replaced a few imperial shitheads. It'd be nice to relax from that. But I can't rest as long as there're any serfs that aren't free. ...I miss the animals I took care of as a serf.

The woman looks at the stranger touching her curiously. "Yes?" She asks with a pleasant tone. For all appearances, she acts and looks like a simple farmer from the country. Not like it's much of an act, she really was one, but those hopes are of a tired shapeshifter and facestealer.

[hopeytouchything]

Okay another weird one to parse out. It's a very chill hope, relaxing and wearing faces like new outfits. Pile of corpses around was a little unsettling but it didn't feel murderous.

Still, corpses aren't a thing she finds very comforting in a person's hopes. Same goes for hopes tied to an ability that feels very tested and refined. Returning to something, not creating something new. "Nothing, just trying not to fall over with all the crowds."

Tandy's not really schooling her expression, a concern growing over her eyes. Nor is she trying to speak the local language, sticking to her modern English intead.

[peasantofmanyfaces]

"Pardon? I'm afraid I don't know that language." Times like this, Iryna wishes for some kind of automatic translation magic, or at least the ability to quickly learn those otherworlders' languages. Just so many interesting languages!

Still, she nods, misunderstanding the look of concern. "It'll be okay. You're free and safe here. We won't let the Empire enslave you again."