monthly test drive!!

[nukeoleptic]

THE TEST DRIVE MEME

• Got a character you're thinking of reserving/apping this round? PUT THEM HERE! • Threads here can count as your third person sample! • Comment with your character's name and canon! • Make up your own scenario or have them walk into all the doors or leave it blank for others to do it for you! • OPTIONAL SCENARIO: After your character receives his or her bracelet and the run-down from the faceless maids in the castle, the first thing they realize upon stepping outside is that the city has been all but shut down for some sort of large festival. There are stalls set up along all of the main streets, selling everything from savory foods to desserts to clothes to trinkets, and the vendors cheerfully call at people as they pass, trying to entice them over. The stalls are all decked in incredibly colorful banners and flags, as if attempting to beat back the grayness still lurking in a lot of the city by sheer physical force. Small musical ensembles play on street corners, and one can't go far at all without nearly running into someone juggling or swallowing swords. Good luck finding your god's welcome house in this chaos - the streets are pretty packed with people just milling around! And have fun! ♥

Comments

Rose Lalonde | Homestuck

[lalondelicious]

[Bustle and liveliness surrounds Rose as she steps out into the streets. Her clothing feels quite plain in comparison to the brightness. The sparkle borders on gaudy.

She carries on through the streets, tries to catalog some of the banners and flags she passes but in the end it's pointless and she allows herself a quiet smile to blend in - only a grump stands out at a festival - but it's really for the juggler who sent her a wink as he flicked one of his clubs up to balance on his nose.

She pauses to catch the tail end of a musical act, nods absently at the beat while keeping her eyes firmly on watch to spy any likely prospect for conversation.]

[bestestfurrend]

[It won't be hard for Rose to spot Nepeta, not with those candy coloured horns standing out in the crowd - but even more so thanks to the giant double-mouthed cat prowling along next to her, easily clearing a path no matter where the duo go. And Nepeta herself does get a glimpse of that pale blonde hair, mistaking her, temporarily, for another Lalonde.]

Roxy! Roxy, you came out for the festival too...wait. Rose?!

[lalondelicious]

[Certainly not difficult at all to spot orange bobbing through the streets. A moment filled with surprise later, she can't help but take the opportunity for a joke. First time meetings are a once in a lifetime affair, after all.

Her hand flies to her mouth in a picture of surprise - two parts act three parts genuine, what is the cute cat troll doing here?] Karkat, what in heavens are you doing here? [No matter that wherever she is seems to be a generalization. A skilled debater could force her geographic point anywhere, lately.] You're much taller than I imagined.

[bestestfurrend]

[Nepeta blinks at that, staring at her. Is she serious? Does she really think she's Karkat?

...nah, of course not.

She bursts out laughing, Pounce standing by looking very confused.]

Oh my paws! I wish Karkat was here to hear that! The face he'd make!!

[lalondelicious]

Any comment that causes Karkat to make a face is a comment worth making.

[It's also a perfect icebreaker and Nepeta's laughter is a delight.]

I don't know that we have ever met in person but are you Nepeta? It would be awful to make a joke and then follow it up with the wrong name.

[bestestfurrend]

This is furry, furry true.

[It's something she'll just have to tell him about later, and have a camera ready to record the moment.]

I am! Yes, yes, that's right! And you're Rose, you look lots like Roxy, it was impawsibble not to notice you! And this is Pounce, remember, I used to tell you about her?

[lalondelicious]

[Rose will pay Nepeta in money, pats or catnip, whichever she prefers, to get a copy of that photo.]

I remember. She's looking very fine. [And very alive, which is always a plus when greeting fuzzy parents. She crouches, holding the back of her hand out on the off chance that the beautiful creature should want to sniff it.

She looks up at Nepeta,] Say, when you mention Roxy... do you mean my mother? [There have to be a lot of blonde Roxys in cities but ones that could be mistaken for her? Considerably fewer.]

[bestestfurrend]

[Pats would be most acceptable as a bribe indeed.]

She is! She's as fluffy and beautiful as ever! [It's a very big plus! Pounce does sniff at Rose's hand politely, and then slips her head beneath it, nuzzling into her palm. It's obvious where Nepeta got her love of being petted from.]

That's right! She told me she's your mother and your daughter at the same time, it has something to do with the scratch. She's just a big older than you, though! That's why I thought you were her at first.

[lalondelicious]

My mother and my daughter. [Well, that sounds like her mother indeed. Curious that she would be here though. Perhaps this is their scratched universe. Not what she expected.]

How much older is a bit older? I know trolls have different scales for these things. [She keeps giving Pounce the proper attention she deserves rubbing her cheek and giving scratches as seems appropriate.]

[nukeoleptic]

[ There's always something beyond exciting in catching sight of a familiar face on the streets of Asgard. At first, Jade assumes it's a mistake: there are lots of pretty blonde girls in the city, especially now that color seems to blossom in the faces of the Natives more and more frequently these days. She misses Rose - of course she's going to see her sometimes in the corner of her eye.

Except, no, this really is her, because once Jade turns to actually look? She's unmistakable. So don't mind her as she casually sort of sneaks up behind her, arms folded at her back and fluffy white ears perked high in excitement. ]

Jeez! You look really familiar. Have we met before??

[ She's biting back a smile. ]

[lalondelicious]

[As much as Rose tries not to startle at the sudden appearance of a girl behind her - a girl with dog ears. Correction: a girl with dog ears who she knows - startle she does, her shoulders bunch and her hands close on thin air as she tries to pull out her thorns only to discover them missing. Less than a breath later she looks and sees (but not seers) Jade Harley. The same as every picture plus some fluff. Her smile is tamed and groomed, or so she believes, when she grapples out words.]

I could say the same of you, mysterious stranger. [Her smile hits her eyes with a twinkle but her mouth is under serious lock and key.] But I can't assert either way without a name.

[nukeoleptic]

Hee. [ Jade can't help it -- it's a laugh in an exhaled breath of air, her back straightening up as she moves forward, throwing her arms around Rose's shoulders and hugging her without warning or apology. ] Oh, my god, you are finally back! I've really missed you. Um - you probably don't remember being here, but that's okay, I'll fill you in later, okay?

[lalondelicious]

[Rose should hope that Jade doesn't apologize for something she would have (perhaps with more poise) initiated if she hadn't launched into a full hug. Rose wraps her arms around Jade's waist and squeezes.]

You haven't returned to leaving your friends in the dark, have you? [Jade knowing more than she has any right to is nothing new but she had seemed to give it up once the game started. However, bad habits die hard.

Reluctant as she is to release her Rose slacks off her grip.]

If you're not filling me in, is there something else you propose doing?

[nukeoleptic]

[ Jade is still smiling hard when she finally drops her own arms to her sides, nodding just briefly as she casts a look over to a food vendor set up on the corner half a block from them. ]

I figured I could fill you in at my house. It's kind of too noisy out here, though.

[ .. and she was on her way to buy some cotton candy. ;c ]

[lalondelicious]

[Rose follows Jade's gaze. It's the look of someone with a hunger in their belly, that is rising up to consume them until all that remains are skin and bones. Rose is also a tad peckish.]

I have found that snacks aid concentration when lengthy explanations are required. Anthropologically speaking, food is tied to culture. Eating may even shorten the time necessary to bring me up to speed.

haha oh my god your rose is already *excellent*

[nukeoleptic]

Well, I'm not sure how specific cotton candy is to Asgard culture, but maybe if we squint our eyes and pretend really, really hard?

[ Jade's a growing girl, alright? Or, well - maybe not growing so much anymore. She's sixteen and has probably gotten as tall as she'll ever get, but her appetite can still borderline on ravenous at times, at least when confections are involved.

So she'll just start to lead Rose over to the little vendor's stand, careful not to let her out of her sight. She might just disappear if she does, after all. ]

So, um - what's the last thing you remember? From home, I mean.

ahhhh, thank you! Your jade is /adorable/.

[lalondelicious]

[Rose follows and considers, all her new surroundings had temporarily shaken the pure weirdness of being yanked from the meteor and placed here. Here does not look like part of sburb in any way but more surprising things have happened.]

I was... [Oh. That's right.] In the middle of waking up from a very big mistake. Though I think it was probably a mistake that needed to be made. [She assesses the cotton candy critically as she rolls the memory of dying and reviving around her mind.] Next time I think outsmarting an omnipotent being is within my capability would you do me the favour of shaking me till my teeth rattle?

[samantha_grey]

[Samantha was seated behind a little booth at the festival, yawning in boredom. She stood out amongst some of those in Asgard, but hardly that much. When she caught sight of Rose walking around, her eyebrows spiked up. Now there was a face she hadn't seen in a while. Back and forth, this one was.

Would this meeting be good or ill?]

Read your fortune?

[She smiled over at her, pulling out a deck of ornate looking cards, shuffling through them.]

[lalondelicious]

[Fortunes for show or, worse, money, fell past Rose's interest whenever she had the opportunity. She does the crossword, draws a hat on the Sagittarius centaur and folds her newspaper without reading how she could make her fortune. But the crowd flowing around her and the spirit of excitement in the air, lets her head dip into a nod.]

If you wish.

[samantha_grey]

[She started to shuffle the deck, motioning to a spot across from the booth. Her fingers moved nimbly over the cards. They weren't her favorite tools of the trade, but there was something familiar to their use. As she shuffled, she smirked over at Rose knowingly.]

So... how have you been, Rose?

[She started to set the cards down face down in front of her, having a feeling Rose wouldn't have a clue who she was. Maybe that would make her wonder a bit about the reading, maybe not.]

[lalondelicious]

[Her eyebrow arches into her fringe.]

For that question to be pertinent, I would hope to remember the one making it. Forgive my rudeness but have we met?

[The maid who gave her instructions at the castle could have passed her name arround, giving a accurate enough description that she could flag her down is... unlikely but not impossible. Or this fortune teller might have powers similar to her own.]

[samantha_grey]

[She chuckled and started to flip over the first two cards.]

In another life perhaps, in another time. You'd be surprised the little things I know, Ms. Lalonde. You are the sort of person caught up in loss and separation, a need to let go of what they've given up, and yet caught behind the dangers of abusing their gifts. Do you ever feel like you can't quite see past the threats that are right there in front of you to the real concerns lurking out of sight?

[Her fingers were tapping over the three of swords, crossed by the devil, lips curled in that enigmatic smile as her tail lashed. She was hopeful that playing it coy like this would irritate her just right or intrigue her enough to keep her sitting.]

[lalondelicious]

[The rest of her name could have been given with the other information, if it was given, and her sweeping statements could flow from simple observation.

Still, if it is observation alone, it's good observation.

Initially, she'd thought the horns were part of a costume but when her tail waves into view she inspects them again. Curiouser and curiouser. Horns but the girl doesn't even match the description of a troll.]

I pride myself in the reach of my sight. However, I would be remiss if I didn't understand that limitless vision does not exist. Miss... [She trails off, leaving the question dangling in the air.]

[samantha_grey]

[Oh, that was the joy of a gypsy's games. She might not have been of the Rom, but she remembered little snippets from past meetings of Rose, knew that she trafficked in magic too, and she knew ways to phrase these things so they could apply to a lot of people. It was sneaky, but it was also fun...

Flip went the crown and the base.]

You may call me Samantha, if you wish, Rose. Miss Grey feels too much like my mother or some dusty old teacher. But you're right. Limitless vision isn't meant for mortal men. Thinking you have it already could be risky...

[She tapped the ace of swords at the base of the cross.]

The root of the situation is the feeling that you've begun, that the sight of success is there before you. The ace is the start of the mind's journey, the sword of the intellect striking out and seeking triumph, but sometimes as sharp as it cuts it lacks discernment.

What crowns you and lies in your mind are the possibilities, creation and the hope that you will actually make progress. Your hopes are more creative and of the spirit than the nature of your quest, but they are your hopes all the same.

[lalondelicious]

[A name! Samantha Grey. A plainer name that Rose imagined, she was thinking something more latin, mysterious or demonic. Named after her mother. Interesting point.]

I see. Do you often get new people around these parts?

[Samantha seems practised at this but as she talks the more Rose becomes convinced that it is for show. Arriving in a new place with a lump of determination is easy to spot and Samantha's words are building upon that one obvious fact. If she had twenty minutes to brush up on tarot cards she could do a reading in return. She would talk about reaching plateaus in the challenges Samantha faces but, once realising she faced sucumbing to complacency, she should reach out to new opportunities. She quirks a smile, ever amused, but doesn't comment directly on the reading.]