dankmemes | test drive meme #17

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!test drive

test drive meme #17

Welcome to Hadriel's test drive, and thank you again for your interest in the game! As always, our reserves page is here, and our applications page is here! Reserves open February 22nd, and apps are open March 1st. Please remember that there is an app cap of 20 apps.

Two quick points here as well:
1. Any thread made in Hadriel's test drive will be accepted as the sole Action Log sample in the application.
2. All threads made in the test drive can be considered game canon, either through handwaving or through a shared mental experience while coming through the Door!

Test drives will be broken up into specific god mini-events, during which your characters can see how well they fare under the watchful eye of one of the gods. Choose wisely or just simply pick 'em all, and have fun!

F E A R

SCENARIO ONE: SHOOTING HOOPS
[The Door brings in all that is chaotic and evil in the world. This may include you, may include the person next to you... and may include the monster behind you.

There you are, calmly exploring this super cool cave city, when all of a sudden you see something roll toward you. What could that possibly be? Why, it seems the Door has brought in some hoop snakes, which are definitely real.

Hoop snakes are poisonous and aggressive reptiles, able to pursue fleeing prey by grasping their tail in their jaws and rolling after them like a wheel. Wow, so efficient! Hard to get away from, though, and kind of... terrifying? If you want to get away, you better be a fast runner. Or maybe you should climb something. Good luck!]

S O R R O W

SCENARIO TWO: YOU GOT THE BLUES
[You woke up this morning on the wrong side of the bed. Not the angry side - the sad side. Somehow, everything just seems to be going wrong, and you don't know why. You were out of milk for your cereal, the fruit you picked just yesterday is already going bad, and instead of getting frustrated all you want to do is feel sorry for yourself.

Even the good things aren't going too well. Maybe your friend just told you your hair looks nice today - doesn't that mean it looks bad the rest of the time? Probably. They've just been too nice to tell you. And your crush smiled at you - that probably means they know about your feelings and are getting ready to let you down easy. That's the only explanation.

No matter what happens, your mind is giving you the worst, most depressing interpretation. You can try to fight it and be aggressively upbeat - or maybe you just want to cry on somebody's shoulder. Yeah. That sounds good right about now.]

D E L I G H T

SCENARIO THREE: PUCKER UP
[For once, Hadriel looks rather lovely, all covered in snow and seasonal! Sure, it's not quite the right season anymore, but who really knows what month it is? Not the residents, and certainly not the gods. But for whatever reason, Delight has decided there should be snow on the ground and ugly sweaters in the shops.

And, of course, mistletoe. On your wanderings around the city, you may find yourself under the mistletoe with a friend or a stranger or even an enemy. Regardless of who they are and how you really feel about them, the mistletoe will give you a gentle compulsion to plant a kiss right on those appealing lips of theirs. You can resist if you want - it won't force you - but don't you kind of want to go for it?

This is a mini version of our Kissmas event this month!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

delight:

[he used to really hate the snow. of course that was back when the cold didn't have much trouble sinking into his bones, even if he'd had a warmer coat and shoes that didn't have holes in the soles of them. now the sight of snow just brings back memories, some of 'em good, and some of them not so good.

the mistletoe is another matter entirely. steve recognizes the little sprig of it hanging above him, but he doesn't have any memories associated with it. these days people would probably have to tip-toe instead of bend down to kiss him, but is that really such a hardship?

for a moment he looks like a deer caught in the headlights, but then steve gives a lopsided smile.]

Looks like someone thought of everything. Maybe we should go caroling next.

fear:

[steve's not afraid of snakes, but it's the first time he's ever seen snakes like these. he does run when one comes rolling after him, but only until he spots a beam protruding from the corner of a building.

he jumps up, grabbing the board and flipping over so that he ends up behind the hoop snake after it rolls on through. steve makes a grab for it, the reptile snapping and almost getting him a couple of times before he manages to grip it by its tail and behind its head.]

Easy, pal, before someone decides to make a belt out of you.

[and that someone might be steve. but until then, he's looking around for something to put the thing in.]

Hey, can you grab that trash can for me?

[he nods in its direction, drawing his head back as the snake tries for another strike.]

wildcard:

[your scenario here!]

No.

[He's not caroling. You can't make him. But Bucky's teasing just as much as Steve is, before his smile fades a bit and he sighs.

Bucky has mixed feelings about Steve being back. On the one hand, he really appreciates having someone else around who really understands what Bucky went through and has his back. On the other, Bucky still feels like there's a crippling weight of expectations coming from Steve about who Bucky is supposed to be when he's not that person anymore and never will be again. And he's still figuring out who he is, so having Steve around, waiting to get his best friend back... it's not particularly helpful.

But running from it isn't generally helpful either. Bucky tried that already. Look where that got him.]

It's the wrong season anyway, not that the gods care.

[but buck, you have such a lovely voice too, even if steve was the one in the barbershop quartet. and captain america just dropped his shield, his expectations of who anyone's supposed to be aren't that heavy. he's just happy to see him again.]

No, I guess they don't. [they don't seem to care that they've made it snow inside a cave, so why would they? steve takes a deep breath.]

Ready to go?

[if they can.]

[Bucky stares up at the mistletoe, frowning. He's absolutely sure it's a god trick, it's always a god trick, but that doesn't change the fact that he's feeling a real deep urge to kiss Steve right now, and that's... well. Not usual.]

I um. [He clears his throat, looks back at Steve, somewhat bewildered.] Go where?

[they were going somewhere, weren't they? but the knit of steve's brow suggests that he isn't really sure about that either. there definitely wasn't any hurry.]

Wherever you want. [steve glances up at the mistletoe, and then looks a little guilty for it.] Or we don't have to go anywhere. We can stay right here.

[They both keep glancing up at the mistletoe, and Bucky sighs deeply.]

Okay, you want to get this over with?

[Bucky steps in close to Steve, lifting his eyebrows in a questions. God, the moment he gets closer, the deeper the urge gets. It's taking a lot just to keep his lips away from Steve right now.

He really doesn't like being compelled to do things.]

[ these snakes are ridiculous. Cashmere's more annoyed than she is afraid - what kind of dumb snake rolls around?? but she's also trying to helpful given that she has skills other people don't. so snakes it is. ]

Uh- sure? [ it takes her a moment to figure out what he's planning to do with the trash can, and she grins when she figures it out. ] I'll hold, you fill?

[steve nods once, waiting for her to get the trash can and be in position to take the lid off. the snake hisses and writhes, trying to either free itself or bite, but he does his best to keep it pulled straight. they'll have one shot at this.]

Ready? [he meets her eyes before looking back down at the can.] Now!

[he doesn't actually wait to see if she gets the lid off, he just trusts that she will, pushing the reptile deep into the metal can before he lets go. steve draws his hands back quickly, clearing the rim.]

Seal him up!

[ luckily for Steve, Cashmere is both fast and good at following directions. as soon as he gives the word, she slams the lid back on, holding it down for a moment while she looks back to him. ]

Think he can get out on his own? [ she gives the can a bit of a rattle, and cautiously lifts her hands from the lid. so far, so good. ]

You're clever. I like you.

I don't think so.

[there's a soft 'thud' as the snake's head hits the metal of the lid and then all is silent. steve would feel a lot worse for the thing if it hadn't been looking to sink its fangs in him.]

I think that just falls under necessity being the mother of invention. But thanks. [he smiles sheepishly at her.] You've got quick hands. Maybe we should stick together for awhile.

[ she smiles back. ] Practice makes perfect.

[ she nods at his suggestion. ] There's some more snakes there. We might as well round them up before they cause too much trouble. [ she's being so helpful. it surprises her a little. ]

I'm Cashmere, by the way.

I know. Can I still call you Cash?

[they only talked a couple of times, but he still remembers her. steve smiles at her, wondering if she can still see anything of the skinny kid from brooklyn when she looks at him.]

Steve. I was here before.

[ she looks thrown for a moment. Steve?? the man in front of her is Steve? it's hard to believe, but hardly the weirdest thing she's ever heard.

but now that he's said it, she can see it in his eyes and in his smile. ]

Oh - uh - of course. We're friends, after all. [ is she staring? oops. ] You look different. New haircut?

[there were only a few people who've looked at steve the way she's looking at him now - people who knew him personally before and after the serum. it's been a long time.

it wouldn't have surprised him if she'd reached out and touched his chest.]

Yeah, I've been trying something new with it. [his eyebrows shoot up, amused.] So how have things been around here? The gods?

[ oh, she wants to touch, but since she's terribly familiar with what it's like to be touched without permission, she's going to look with her eyes instead of her hands. she might ask later. for science. ]

It looks good on you. [ very good. congrats on your "haircut," Steve. ]

Uh- things have been okay. Most of the god are back now. There was this whole incident with evil twins that was completely horrible but other than that it's been all together pretty average.

More gods, more trouble.

[he murmurs it. he remembers the initial advantages of the resurrections - the bar, the orchard - but it seemed like trouble was never far behind. but he hadn't exactly managed to stay out of it back home either.]

I can't say that I missed everything about this place, but it will be good to see some folks again.

[Mistletoe aside, Natasha might have kissed Steve when she saw him in Hadriel. She couldn't deny that she was happy to see him—even if it did mean he was trapped here too.

Natasha worked well with a lot of people. Had to. It was a requirement of her job. She could put aside her ego, when she had to, because she had to. But there weren't many people she worked with as well or as naturally as Steve, and almost no one she'd rather have to watch her back.

Mistletoe is just a convenient excuse.

It's not a romantic kiss, not by any means, but when the urge hits, Natasha goes up on her toes, drags Steve down by the front of his shirt, and lands a quick, firm kiss on his lips expressing her gratitude seeing him here.

A few seconds later, when it's over, she falls back to her heels like nothing happened.]

You tell me—you feel the urge to sing?

[he doesn't have much to do back home these days. at least maybe he can help people here. and being trapped with a couple of his best friends definitely helps. steve's steps quicken as soon as he sees her, but the welcome is warmer than he was expecting.

it's not the first time that she's kissed him, and steve returns it as automatically as he did the first time. it also leaves him briefly dazed again. he has to wonder just how many times it would take a guy to get used to that.

urges. right.]

Uh - yeah. Any requests? [steve smiles at her, eyebrows lifting.] Was I any better that time?

[he had to ask.]

I didn't say it was bad the first time. I said you needed practice.

[She falls into the conversation naturally. There's teasing in her voice, but no malice.]

Have you been practicing?

[She says as though to say there's your answer. She did mean it wasn't good, though—it could be much worse.

It was just clear between the two of them who had more experience.

Then, pivoting:] You know, I just realized I don't know all that many Christmas carols.

Which sounded like a nice way of saying it was bad.

[he gives her a smile though, warm even if it's a touch awkward because of the subject matter. he wonders if that kiss with sharon counts as practice. it might be wiser just to plead the fifth on this.]

Might be kind of weird to go around singing them anyway. Just this morning, I was months away from Christmas. Now this.

[snow and mistletoe and sweaters that even steve wouldn't wear.]

How long have you been here?

Three months now.

[She admits it with a hesitant air, as though embarrassed. That's a long time for a place to keep Natasha captive.

But here she is.]

There are some people who've been here a lot longer, though. Seen a lot more than I have.

Best I can tell, I was here for around nine.

[so don't feel bad. not only did it catch steve too, but it's caught him for a second time.]

I was smaller then. This place was a lot tougher than boot camp.

[he wonders if he should tell her that he met her back then, briefly, never knowing who she was. maybe it would just trouble her more, but then is keeping a secret from a friend ever a good idea?]

And apparently one other time before that. I don't remember that one. This place has its ways.

I heard about that. [She tilts her head a little, her expression more serious than a moment before when she was teasing him about his kissing skills.] Bruce, he filled me in.

We haven't exactly been close here, but we covered that much.

[Not that she was expecting them to be close here. Natasha's good at managing expectations. She's also good at not putting her feelings on other people. That's as much as Steve needs to be concerned with.]

I think he'll be happy to see you're big again. He was worried he'd break space-time talking to you before. Some kind of Back to the Future science behind that.

[he gets that reference! (sorry, he still gets excited about that sometimes.) steve watches her carefully as she talks about bruce. sorry nat, you're his friend, and he can't not be concerned about you.]

Yeah, he helped me a lot when I first got here too. You okay?

[you know. just in general.]

I'm always okay, Rogers. Figured you'd noticed that by now.

[That's a lie. But she's been okay here, mostly. Give or take a few sleepless days back in December and the tension that comes with looking over her shoulder all the time.

For her, it's normal which is more or less okay.]

You don't have to worry about me.

test drive meme #17

steve rogers | mcu

delight, lol

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a million years later

fear

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