🚕 TEST DRIVE 🍁 September

[sinfulmods]

Test Drive Meme

Considering apping to the City of Sin, but unsure of who to bring or if they'll fit? Feel free to give the setting a test drive here! These are a perfect way of getting your playing sample done for the application.

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→ Comment with the character you'd like to test drive in the setting, with name and canon in the subject line.
→ Choose a scenario or create your own, and tag around!
→ If you're still tagging in the last TDM, you may continue to do so, or feel free to move your threads here. We have four test drives a year. New test drives are now posted sometime during the months of: March, June, September, December.
→ Threads in the test drive are NOT eligible to use for activity checks, however you can make them game canon if you wish — and only if both players are accepted in the game.
→ Prospective players are always welcome to contact the mod for any questions or clarifications regarding the game.

Possible Scenarios Please note that all characters will initially arrive in their assigned housing; they are free to explore the City to their heart's content after that! 01. A New Arrival: Hello, New Person! You seem to have found yourself on a sidewalk in the City of Sin with nothing but the clothes on your back and a stomach churning feeling of being displaced. Thankfully, the streets are full of people - Watch out that you don't get mugged! 02. Demonic Presences: You were just minding your own business, weren't you? But that's always when bad things seem to happen, and the City of Sin isn't really that friendly. Whatever bar or street you're hanging out in suddenly go dim, filling the area with an unnerving feeling as the shadows on the walls jump out into reality. We suggest you phone a friend for help, or maybe try running? 03. Party Hard: You've been invited to a massive, elegant party in the Tower District that spills out its doors in welcome. Obviously, this whole thing is weird and you don't know who your hosts are, but maybe you can get some free drinks and food out of it! This place might not be so bad. 04. Prominence: The City of Sin influences its population on a weekly basis. Too bad you came right smack dab in the middle of a heavy Prominence. Lust, Greed, Gluttony, Envy, Wrath, Sloth, or Pride: choose your sin and be wicked. 05. Trouble: Not everyone is sunshine and roses here. Some people are violent and cruel, raised in the sludge of a sinful city. And they like to pick on people they think can't fight back. Are you that person? Or are you the Hero who can't stand to watch? Worse yet, could you be the person doing the instigating? Villain. 06. Carnival: The City has carnivals or festivals now and then; you're lucky to catch one! With its open booths filled with cork gun games and funnel cakes, how can someone not have any fun! Go win your darling a stuffed animal, or meet someone new on the spinning cup ride. You might even see someone you know being talked into sitting in the Dunk Tank. 07. Network: There's a network device in your pocket - or at least a familiar object that seems to work in mysterious ways. Perhaps you can take to that and ask for a bit of help? Or maybe you'd prefer to have a little fun with all of this. Surely someone will reply. 08. Wild Card:Choose your own adventure in the game's setting!

Comments

[izzetthough]

"This?"

He smiles fondly, patting the brass gauntlets like they were puppies he was particularly proud of. "Like that, huh? Made 'em myself. Part of the whole 'genius' inventor thing I mentioned earlier?"

Seconds later he's leaning forward in his seat. "And it sort of ties into being a storm mage, too. See, calling rain and lightning's great, right up until you're indoors or underground. Doesn't do a whole lot of good then."

One finger lifts. "Unless." And he taps the metal cuff. As it does, a little tendril of electricity seems to travel from the metal to his fingertip, before disappearing.

[diana_abel]

There were some Thaumaturgs back home who had weather-manipulating abilities. Diana hadn't met one in decades, if not a full century. But at least she could somewhat understand what he was saying. Or, rather, the concept of a 'storm mage' felt self explanatory. And now, so did his doohickeys. Some sort of design to augment his abilities. Made sense. Kind of cool, even. Although...

"Or you could just flick a lighter under a fire alarm and set off the sprinklers," she said lightly, as the server brought them menus.

No, she totally hadn't done that ever in the history of her sordid career as a Big Damn Hero.

Except that she had. A couple times a year, at least.

She smiled at him, gesturing for him to order whatever he wanted. "It looks a little heavy. How do you carry all that around with you?"

[izzetthough]

A quick glance at the menu, as well as the notices for what was the spiciest, and Ral picks out an intriguing looking vindaloo, the next time the waiter comes by for drinks and orders. Order, singular, in this case. But at least no one's nearby to stare or comment.

"What, this?" He snorts indelicately before lifting an arm and flexing, ever so briefly. He's no Boros Legionnaire, but there's a lot of muscle under those robes. "Just because I'm a mage doesn't make me some delicate bookworm, or some frail, wizened old codger. Now, I am working on streamlining the device some, but these things don't happen overnight. Even for me."

[diana_abel]

Nothing in this world or any other was funnier than seeing a man flex. Diana couldn't explain it, exactly. But it somehow reminded her of the God-awful 1950s beach movies she used to go to, all dolled up in a poodle skirt, her hair in an elegant side-pony. She wasn't exactly sentimental for the 1950s, what with the racism and sexism and all other kinds of awful -isms. But she did miss the poodle skirts, sometimes.

At any rate, she let out a small, bell-like laugh. Something, she realized, she hadn't done in quite a while.

Of course, what did you expect when there was an ancient evil terrorizing the City?

"Okay, fair," she said. "But it's not all that conducive to dancing."

[izzetthough]

Luckily, he takes it not for mocking laughter but merely amusement and. Yeah, alright, he'd been playing it slightly more for laughs. So he grins back, dropping back into a relaxed lean on folding arms onto the table.

"Well, that's presumptuous of you. You've never seen me dance," he responds, eyebrows lifting high.

[diana_abel]

"Everyone dances," she said. "If I know one thing about human beings, it's that. Not a single person can resist a good beat. Not indefinitely."

Cainites could. But Diana had decided that was because they no longer had beating hearts. Music couldn't speak to them the way it did before. Not unless they were like Diana. Not unless they wanted it to.

Maybe needed it to.

[izzetthough]

"Not saying I don't dance. Just that you've never seen me. I'm pretty nimble with or without the hardware." He shrugs, waving one hand dismissively in the air.

"And parties aren't normally my thing. Too many people peacocking around, trying prove who has the biggest, fluffiest feathers. Me? I like to make an impact on my peers in more meaningful ways than who my parents were, or where my dress came from."

[diana_abel]

"Too bad," Diana deadpanned. "I had a dress in my closet I thought would be perfect for you."

She wondered if he had nice legs. And then felt deeply ashamed of herself for going that way. But you couldn't blame a girl for daydreaming, every now and then. And certainly, daydreams were the naughtiest Diana was getting, as of late.

"Still," she continued, "good on you. Nothing wrong with that kind of ambition. Assuming you want to prove yourself by making life better for people, not going after them with a chainsaw and a hockey mask. You should know that I'm very anti-hockey. And anti-hockey masks."

[izzetthough]

"Oh yeah? Nothing with a farthingale, though. I draw the line at impractical architecture."

He chuckles, reaching to link his fingers together and crack his knuckles before settling in again. "Not sure what 'hockey' is but...no. My interest has always been and will always be finding new solutions to old problems. Things that would improve the life of the common folk. Or give them a fighting chance. I'm good either way, honestly."

[diana_abel]

Diana laughed her little, bell-like laugh. "I would never impose a farthingale on anyone, I assure you. Or a corset." Talk about medieval torture. Diana had been only too hate to ditch those. And from there, it was only a short hop, skip, and jump to bra burning.

That one didn't work out so well for her. She'd give herself a black eye if she ran too fast.

But she leaned in a little as she listened to Ral talk. As she listened and liked what she heard. "What do you consider a 'fighting chance?'"

[izzetthough]

"Well, not everyone is born with the ability to call lightning. And back where I'm from? If you can't fight, you get ground under the boots of those that can. What my guild does, what the Izzet League is all about, is innovation. Technology and magic that anyone can use. We're not worried about being in charge. We want things to be better, for everyone, from the ground up."

Which was the entire reason he'd signed up. And for a moment, that smarmy facade slips and perhaps there's a glimpse of something slightly more idealistic beneath that shines through. Just for a moment.

[diana_abel]

Like always spoke to like. And that glimmer of idealism could have easily reeled Diana in. It did make her smile, anyway. As she rested her chin in her palm in a rather unlady-like manner.

This City might eat him alive, if he wasn't careful.

"Is that all you do in your world? Fight or invent things?"

A pause.

"And wear farthingales?"

[izzetthough]

"Significantly more of the first two, definitely."

Lady-like or not, it didn't seem to matter much to him. He's not much for poise and manners, and the undignified noise of glee that escapes him as the food starts to come out is proof enough of that. "Ohhh yeah. That's the ticket."

The steaming pot of vindaloo is practically nostril-scorching, a vivid red from all the chilies. And of course, a side of hot, freshly-cooked naan and a bowl of fragrant rice topped with a sprig of cilantro is set down alongside it. Ral rubs his hands together with glee, before starting to pile the meal onto his plate.

[diana_abel]

Little weirdo that she was, Diana took far too much pleasure in watching people eat. But at least she had the good sense enough to know it was creepy to stare. She leaned back, one shoulder against the wall, absently tracing the stucco, careful to keep her eyes politely averted, as much as possible.

"Limited options," she remarked.

Obviously it was an exaggeration. It had to be. But she had no way of knowing just how much.

"I was a musician, before I was a librarian. In the city that was before. More of a lover, than a fighter." Of course, she could kick ass. And quite effectively. She just didn't like it.

[izzetthough]

"An artist, huh?"

He studies for a moment at that, as if weighing something in his mind before dismissing it entirely, and opting to take a large bite out of his plate full of food. Immediately after he lets out an obscene hum, mouth curling upward as he sinks back against his chair with a 'clank', the tank strapped to his back connecting with the wood.

"Mmmph."

[diana_abel]

Diana bit her lips together, to keep from laughing. It was close to obscene indeed. A sex noise, if she ever heard one.

Of course, she was out of practice.

"Something like that," she said, politely deciding not to make commentary. "Still can catch my act at the corner of Downey and Keating, if you ever feel the need for some super groovy tunes."

[izzetthough]

"When you're not librarian-ing it up?"

The answer is a vague one, but he has his reasons. Artists. There's little danger of a repeat of events here, but it's a reminder he wants to avoid all the same. Gotta keep his head in the game. Too much to do, too much data to unpack.

Krokt, but this stuff is good though. A shame she can't try some herself.

[diana_abel]

She nodded slightly. "Profits all go to the homeless shelter, of course." Not that she made a ton of money while busking. But it wasn't complete insubstantial. And there wasn't a better use she could think of. Her librarian gig paid rent and for blood. And Jack seemed to be determined to buy her all the boots she could ever want. So she was good there.

"Mostly classics. The Beatles."

Wait a second...

Diana sat up ramrod straight. "I'll bet you don't have the Beatles in your world. Oh, dude. You're in for the greatest thing ever."

[izzetthough]

He blinks, mid-chew, pausing for a moment before swallowing and thumping his chest lightly. "Ah, no. We definitely have beetles. And they're...okay? As bugs go. Is this a thing where you're from? Are insects really popular there?"

Both eyebrows arch. "They're not sacred or anything, are they?" He might have just put his entire foot into his mouth without realizing it. Well that's just spectacular.

[diana_abel]

"Oh, God, no, no. Not beetles. The Beatles. They're a band." The fun of the multiverse. And the unfortunate pun of the Beatles' name. "And while I can't really say they're sacred, they are kind of rock gods. And woe betide anyone who besmirches their name in front of me because they're perfect. Were perfect. Their music will live forever."

Diana was not a violent creature, by nature. But she had once or twice been very tempted to slap someone who said their body of work was over-rated.

It so was not.

And up until recently, not meeting John Lennon had been the greatest regret of Diana's American life.

"I'll play some for you, sometime."

[izzetthough]

"Ahh."

His hands lift in apology, lips quirking upwards at the corners.

"Understood. I know better than to get between people and their gods. Rock, stone, or otherwise."

[diana_abel]

"No...no. Uh, 'rock' is a type of music. They're not actual gods. Just really, really good musicians."

This was one of the many costs of Diana's love of slang, she supposed. Older Cainites usually couldn't figure out what the hell she was saying most days. While younger mortals were just baffled. Throw in the multiverse and...

But he was smiling so...

She shook her head. "The Beatles are very, very talented musicians from my world. That's all."

[izzetthough]

"You say that. I feel like some artists can command the prestige and adoration of gods, when they're popular enough." Here again he looks a little wry before tugging a grin back into place, and taking another heaping bite of that extra-spicy curry.

Mmm. Good enough to make your eyes water.

[diana_abel]

"I hope not," Diana said, tilting her head to one side, her hair sliding off of her shoulder. "Innovation, ingenuity, genius, they all come from mortality. If a musician were a god, they'd lose the talent that makes them special."

But, Diana had a bias. She believed the best in human beings. And generally, the worst in vampires.

Every Cainite's self-loathing manifested in different ways. Her was just a little...paradoxical.

[izzetthough]

"I suppose things become a little less dire when you have all the time in the world. Being efficient and making things easier only really matters when you're on the clock and can only achieve so much in one lifetime."

He snorts, nose wrinkling. "That explains a lot about the Syndicate, actually. Bunch of immortals and undead clinging to old artifice and 'tradition'. Why wouldn't they?"