Test Drive 007

[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.

cityofsin | cityofsin_logs | cityofsin_ooc
Rules | FAQ | Taken Characters | Reserves | Applications


→ 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
→ Tag around

Possible Scenarios 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 chruning 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, filing 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 at the Tower that spills out it's doors in welcome, by someone who calls themselves the Emperor. Obviously that's weird, 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 it's 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 choice of 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? Villian. 06. Carnival: The City has carnivals or festivals now and then; you're lucky to catch one! With it's 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. Wild Card: Choose your own adventure in the game's setting!

Comments

[alphaophiuchi]

Draco was, to say the least, impressed. It was abundantly clear from the look on his face, just this side of awe-struck. That a Malfoy would not only be able to get a Ministry position, but one in a department that was arguably rather important meant something to him. It wasn't something he could do, he knew.

And really, he knew much of the same as Scorpius did: that there was a certain message to be sent by the fact that the latest generations of Malfoys were willing to put themselves out there into the world as working individuals, instead of being portrayed as too good for it all.

"Very good," he remarked finally, a smile curving at his lips. He hadn't even fathered the boy yet, but in the back of his mind, he rather looked forward to it. Or - since he was always sceptical of what the future might hold for him - getting to know him here, for as long as it lasted. "I expect you'll probably get that researcher position, too, if you were good enough to get the internship in the first place."

[unyieldingebony]

This Draco was not his father but Scorpius still couldn't stop the little thrill of excitement in his chest that came from knowing he'd pleased him. His father had made no secret that he was proud of Scorpius' accomplishments but it made him happy all the same.

"Of course." He smiled, trying not to show how immensely pleased he was at Draco's approval. He had worked very hard on his N.E.W.T.s to get an Outstanding in every single one so that they couldn't possibly turn down his application. He'd nearly driven himself (and Albus) crazy in his obsessive need to study. "Assuming I am ever able to go back, that is."

[alphaophiuchi]

It was a very similar feeling, most likely, to how Draco had always wanted Narcissa's approval while they were there in the City. Illogical, maybe, but still evidence of the familial connection that clearly meant so much back home.

"Well, I'm sure it'll happen eventually. And in the meantime, it's not like it's going anywhere. I don't believe anyone's ever had an issue with time passing while they were here," he remarked thoughtfully, glancing sideways to Scorpius again.

[unyieldingebony]

"So people have managed to return to where they came from? And then... they were brought back here?" Scorpius felt as though he were still missing several pieces of the puzzle. Or, more likely, like he'd received several pieces from any number of different puzzles and was trying to make them all fit together.

[alphaophiuchi]

"No, to say that they 'managed to return home' suggests that they had some choice in the matter," he lightly corrected, fluttering one hand through the air a little. It was almost an agitated gesture, one born of nerves. "They didn't, from what I can tell. People leave as randomly as they come in. But yes, a few people have been brought back in the past."

It was indeed a puzzle, though. One that many people were focusing on, and that few had ever made headway on. Draco would be a little ashamed to admit that he'd all but given up on it.

[unyieldingebony]

Well, that matched more with what Draco had already said, but it still left him with a distinct lack of answers that made him uncomfortable. He didn't understand how any of it was possible. It was beyond comprehending.

"At least the whole city isn't as bad as where I was at first." Indeed, everything around them had gotten much nicer, from the buildings to the people they passed by. Scorpius could almost feel at ease, if it weren't for-- well, everything else.

[alphaophiuchi]

It truly was. It was more than a little off-putting. The fact that Draco seemed so utterly at peace with it all probably didn't help any; he probably seemed like he'd been brainwashed or something.

"No, that's certainly true. Sadly, you ended up in...well, one of the worst districts here." He wrinkled his nose distastefully. That was just sad, and he couldn't quite place why it might be. "I showed up in the Tower District, later moved to Leisurebrook. Both of those are relatively decent. The Tower is fairly expensive, though, so I don't know how many places you want to frequent until you're more settled."

[unyieldingebony]

It was definitely very peculiar that none of it seemed to phase him. But then again... three years. Scorpius had no idea how much time would normally be needed to adjust to such utterly bizarre things, but perhaps that was more than enough.

He cringed at the thought of that horrid room he'd started out in. There had been roaches. He'd never even seen a roach before and one had nearly crawled on him. "Somewhere decent would certainly be preferable."

[alphaophiuchi]

"We'll start with the cafe then." That was that. It was quaint and relatively inexpensive, as things went. And they weren't too far out from it either, which was a plus. Perhaps that was mostly because Draco's strides were as long as he could make them in an attempt to get far away from those horrible roaches. He hadn't seen them, but he didn't need to. The whole district was run-down and disgusting.

They were passing through the Tower District then, and the change was obvious. Things were brighter, more modern, and decidedly nicer. The juxtaposition was almost disconcerting compared to Shantytown and the Red Lantern districts.

"Leisurebrook is generally fairly...middle of the road, as things go. Everyone can generally afford it." A little shrug. "Rumour has it, the districts are all based around the seven deadly sins. You're familiar?"

[unyieldingebony]

It was strange how swiftly the overall mood of the city seemed to change from one block to the next, but nothing Scorpius hadn't seen before at home. After all, just one corner was all that separated Diagon Alley from Knockturn Alley.

Scorpius could still remember the lectures he'd been given as a child to not wander down there almost verbatim. For very good reason, of course.

"Not overly, but I know enough to recognize them." They'd gone over all sorts of religions in his Muggle Studies courses- those were a requirement now, in hopes that a better understanding of muggles would stop prejudices from building once more.

[alphaophiuchi]

Shantytown was officially the Knockturn Alley of the City: that was all there was to it. Listen to those lectures, Scorpius.

He nodded, content with that answer. He hadn't really known much besides the very basic details when he came into the City, after all, so it seemed ridiculous to him that people were immediately leaping to that conclusion. That said, once he really looked at it, it actually made sense.

"The Tower will make sense as pride, then. The Red Lantern District is supposed to be lust - there are enough brothels to sink a bloody ship, after all. Finance Street is greed, I suppose. The Gardens, I think, are gluttony," Draco mused, fluttering one hand through the air. "It should be noted that it's called the City of Sin for a reason. This place does things to people."

[unyieldingebony]

With every answer given, there were only more questions. The Seven Deadly Sins theory was interesting, although he didn't have nearly enough information to put any credit or discredit to it.

"What do you mean? Is there some sort of encouragement for acting on those sins?"

[alphaophiuchi]

"Well, the City, to be quite frank, fucks with our emotions." That was the easiest way to put it, blunt as it was. "So yes, in a way. It's hard to resist something when you don't even realise it's happening.

"Picture, for example, simply being out and about. Suddenly, you wander by a shop, and you think to yourself, yes, I do deserve nice things, and you buy a few hundred Galleons' worth of things. There's no rhyme or reason behind it. You just felt like it."

[unyieldingebony]

Merlin, he's not sure he's ever heard his father swear. At least, not that casually. That was enough of a reminder of the differences just by itself. "I can see how that would be an issue."

It seemed like not much of a person's life was under their own control here. It was a little terrifying.

[alphaophiuchi]

There was no better way to punch that little fact home than with a very casual bit of profanity. But he was right - that too was probably an excellent way to indicate that he was not yet and not quite Scorpius' father, save in name alone. He did, however, have a paternal streak a mile wide, and the urge to step into those shoes. Hopefully, that would be good enough.

"It's an odd little issue, but an issue all the same, yes. Perhaps you'll have a better time than most avoiding such influences," he mused, glancing to Scorpius a little hopefully.

[unyieldingebony]

"Perhaps... though the way you described it, it seems more complicated than a matter of self-control." Part of him hoped that was the case; if it was out of his control then maybe it wouldn't be a grave disappointment if he slipped and gave in to those impulses. The rest was terrified at the thought of not being able to control himself.

[alphaophiuchi]

"There is a bit of resistance you can put up against it," he admitted, shrugging slightly. "But you have to know that it's happening beforehand. Otherwise, it's rather hard."

He was slightly ashamed to admit that he was considerably weaker than he could have been. He so often ended up just giving in and letting his emotions have the better of him. Of course, he'd been there so long, sometimes he wondered if he wasn't just entirely mad anyway.

[unyieldingebony]

"Does skill with Occlumency help at all with that?" Scorpius asked. On the one hand, if the problem wasn't magic in origin, perhaps it wouldn't apply. On the other, Occlumency was more a practice in mental discipline than pure magic. Tight control over one's self and one's emotions were the basis of it.

[alphaophiuchi]

"Yes," he replied mildly, glancing over. "It helps a bit, at least. You can keep some things out, and that's probably a good thing. I can't imagine what it might be like without Occlumency on my side."

[unyieldingebony]

Scorpius nodded thoughtfully. It had been a few years since his Occlumency lessons and, rather fortunately, he'd never had to put them to real practice, but he could still remember the process. Of course, as Draco had mentioned, it wouldn't do much good if he didn't have any warning. "Are there any other dangers that come with living here?"

[alphaophiuchi]

"It's...complicated." To say the least. Where Draco was normally happy to let people figure things out for themselves, he felt an odd sense of protectiveness when it came to Scorpius, even now. They'd barely known each other for two minutes, but he already wanted to protect the boy.

"There are demons prowling the streets sometimes. It varies. You can never really predict the horrid things, unfortunately, save at night, when they're a little more populous than otherwise. There's a drug on the street called Lust - there's a bit in the welcome package you'll get. Avoid that. It melts your organs. Ah-" He paused, tonguing the back of his teeth. "I'm sure there are other things too."

[unyieldingebony]

'Complicated' certainly seemed to be the appropriate word. Demons? A drug that melted organs? "Just those are-- quite a lot, really." It was beginning to be irksome, being tossed here with so very little information. What would he have done if Draco hadn't run into him? How would he have found any of this out?

[alphaophiuchi]

He likely would have found out the hard way. Not an end Draco cared to look into, as it generally ended with people on his table, but-

Well, that was neither here nor there.

"Yes, it is. And here we are," he mused, gesturing to a cafe before them before snagging the door and holding it for the boy. "Order whatever you like. Tea, coffee, a cake, a few cakes." A shrug.

[unyieldingebony]

Scorpius gave an appreciative nod, looking over the menu briefly before deciding on a rose tea latte and a light sandwich. Not that the cakes hadn't sounded good, he just hadn't realized how hungry he was for something a tiny bit more substantial until he'd smelled the food. Sitting in the cafe, it was almost like things were normal, at least until he caught sight of Draco again. Right. That likely wouldn't stop being surreal for a while yet.

It wasn't until he'd taken a few calming sips of tea that he spoke again. "What exactly do you do here, when not dealing with demons or muggers armed with knives? Not just you specifically, though I do wonder about that as well, but the people who have been brought here in general."

[alphaophiuchi]

Really, Draco was a little appreciative that Scorpius was opting for real food as well. It was clear that the offer wasn't being treated as pure politeness. There was a chance, hopefully, for them to get to know each other better here. Or, in Draco's case, to get to know Scorpius at all.

He was fascinated, truly, by the fact that the young man sitting in front of him was his son.

He ordered himself a tea as well, paired with a scone; he wasn't that hungry. But it would give him something to do with hands, and give him something to focus on.

Grey eyes flicked up to Scorpius once more when the silence broke, and he studied the other for a moment. "Generally, we just...do our best to build lives. What else can we do? We meet each other, build friendships, find some way to pass the time." And briefly, he realised that he hadn't addressed the wedding band on his finger; he shifted, wondering if he should hide it.

Probably not. "I, erm. I got married, actually."