ASGARD GENESIS: TEST DRIVE MEME #3

[asgardmods]

the test drive meme. ❧ let's do this. Anyone can post to the test drive meme, including duplicates! Please put your character name and canon in the title of your comment. All threads are considered open to everyone! Tag around and make some friends (or enemies)! If you decide to apply to the game, you can use your TDM threads for your app samples! You only need to provide seven comments if you use TDM samples. You can't really be late to a TDM! This will be considered open until the next one goes live next month. You can make up your own scenario, interact with one of the locations in the game, use the welcome process of your character waking or selecting a god house, or use our optional prompt below! You do not need to pick a god house to play on the TDM! You can have your character still in the process of discussing/deciding/despairing instead. If you are accepted to the game, you can keep TDM threads as game canon as long as you fudge some of the details depending on your original thread. If you aren't sure exactly how to do this, you can always ask a mod. The game cap is currently at 72/100, meaning we can accept up to 28 new players! Casts currently at/approaching the 8 character limit are: ASOIAF/GOT: 8/8 Marvel Cinematic: 7/8 Kingdom Hearts: 4/8 Star Wars: 5/8 Reserves open on July 25 at 12:01AM EST and close on July 31 at 11:59PM EST. Applications open on August 1 at 12:01AM EST and close on August 7 at 11:59PM EST. Please always feel free to contact the mods if you have any questions! Have fun, dear (future?) Wanderers. ♥ ❧ optional scenario. As you walk around during the day or pass by any kind of light source, you might notice something strange about your shadow. At first it's something small, something you might be able to dismiss as simply a trick of the eye. Maybe as you're pointing in one direction, it's pointing in the other, or maybe it takes a drink from the shadow of your glass while the real one remains in place, untouched. Maybe its hands are on its hips while you tell a lie, or it waves at someone you haven't greeted yet. Strange, but harmless enough - that is, until your shadow's newfound independence becomes a bit more tangible. Perhaps you almost trip mid-step as a shadowy hand grips your ankle in a vice. Perhaps a door you've just opened slams shut when a blackened arm shoots forward from your own. Or perhaps worst of all, your shadow stands before you, completely separated from its source and seemingly of no mind to obey your motions any longer. These awakened shadows are hostile and can be seen by anyone, but they will only attack their owner. The only way to stop them is to fight back: if you knock them or unconscious, kill them, or shine a bright light directly on them, they will fall to the ground and melt back into their proper place behind you, no longer… misbehaving, we'll say. Be vigilant, dear Wanderers, and beware of the light every bit as much as the dark. navigation.

Comments

[winscenario]

Sorry, go what?

[ Like is he gonna give him a virus or turn him into a virus? You know what, neither of those make sense. Enlighten this 23rd century child. ]

Well, maybe if she's hot I wouldn't mind. [ Said with an amused chuckle, but he nods at the offer. ] I'll take you up on your offer, yes. That'd be nice.

[ikols]

Viral! Maybe you need to experience it firsthand after all.

[ He rolls his eyes at the idea of any man trying to flirt with Skadi, as well as being intrigued by the idea of exploiting a weakness in Jim. Using the magic imbued by Skadi, Loki's appearance seamlessly shifts from male to female; not as instantly as when Loki had been able to actually shapeshift, but the illusion is decent.

She plants a hand on a hip. ]

I hope you're happy to wait a while, I've yet to find any coffee beans.

[winscenario]

I don't know, it doesn't sound like a very pleasant experience.

[ Now he's just thinking Loki was gonna try and give him some kind of disease, which ew. His thoughts kind of get sidetracked when he turns into a woman, though.

It's not enough to startle him, but he does pause for a while, looking her up and down. A first for him, undoubtedly, but actually not the most shocking thing he's seen in his life. And that's saying something. ]

Then... whatever you like to drink around here. Or eat, whichever. I'm an easy guy to please. [ He shoots her a playful smile. ]

[ikols]

It can be.

[ More importantly, the way she arches a brow back is playful in return. Pointedly, as her smile grows a little flatter, she loses the illusion and returns to being a man. ]

I'd never have guessed. [ Note to self, if ever you want to manipulate Jim then get a hot woman to do it. Loki waves as he wanders down the street, a careless invitation. ] I know where to get a hot meal and an ale, if that's a decent substitute for coffee, but the tavern was somewhat crushed by a dragon attack and you'll have to excuse the lingering mess. On the plus side, its outdoor beer garden has summarily grown in size.

[winscenario]

[ Well, he can try, but Jim might not be as easy to manipulate as he seems. Plenty have tried before, with lesser success the more he grew, and learned. ]

That works fine for me. [ He nods, though he lifts an eyebrow curiously at that. ] Wait, a dragon? Is that... you have a lot of those around here?

[ikols]

No telling, but the one that attacked was the size of a mountain and it smushed some of the city before it was felled ... it's amazing how fast people will work to replenish stocks of ale. The worst of the fire hit Njord's district but a crispy Skipta Mál is still the main meeting point. The pub has been getting repairs for about a month.

[ Not through Loki's assistance, of course. He's just glad other people are good enough to lend a helping hand, his skill with hammers is notoriously poor. ]

[winscenario]

That's unfortunate. [ Not just the lost ale, for the record. But yeah, also that. ]

Did a lot of people get hurt? [ And another concern pops up too, as he goes on to add. ] Do things like that happen a lot? Attacks, accidents, that sort of thing?

[ikols]

[ A gesture to his limping left leg is answer enough, but he elaborates to the second line of questioning. ]

Not especially. The influx of Wanderers likely bothered the shit out of the old beast and our buzzing around like flies probably awakened it. So far, the gods of this new realm have been doing their best to keep us safe.

[winscenario]

[ Jim nods mutely. He can only guess that others got injured too, maybe some more than others. He wonders if anyone actually died, but he figured Loki would've said if that were the case.

Anyway, Loki's words spur another thought from him, and he asks as soon as the pieces come together. ]

So you're not from around here, then? You're a Wanderer, too. [ That explains why he wouldn't have a district of his own. ]

[ikols]

I'd say you're sharp but it's more likely I'm being slow.

[ The wry twist to his lips isn't entirely bothered to be found out; it would have happened soon anyway. ]

I didn't lie about who I am, Jim. I really am the God of Mischief, just from the universe designated six-one-six instead of this one. [ He shrugs. ] This isn't my first trek across the multiverse, nor my first rodeo in another Asgard.

[ A short pause follows before he mutters with a glance around, ]

Never been in one this young, though.

[winscenario]

Could be a little of both.

[ Not that he's offended to be called dumb, but really. He's very sharp, okay. ]

I didn't think you were lying, for what it's worth. I'm not unfamiliar with multiverses either, myself. [ Just from a different perspective-- he wasn't the one traveling over to the other side the last time this happened to him. Point is, it's not that difficult for him to wrap his mind around the notion of different Lokis in different realities. Well, certainly no more difficult than coming to terms with Gods themselves actually existing. ]

So you don't exist in this one yet, I take it. [ A hum. ] That's gotta be weird.

[ikols]

[ Could be, once he knows enough about Jim to make a real assessment. Being a pretty blue-eyed boy doesn't count (much, loki may be a little shallow). ]

It's a relief, I usually turn out to be the bad apple with a tendency to kill myself. Myselves.

[winscenario]

[ Jim offers a small smile. He can't really say much to a statement like that, so he just looks on ahead while they walk, quiet for a while. ]

So, aside from drinking, what do people do for fun around here? [ He asks as they approach the district, where Jim can spot some of that fire damage Loki mentioned. ]

[ikols]

[ Kamala thought he was weird. He feels the echoes of it in the way Jim lets the subject slide, inwardly chagrined for oversharing; people don't talk about what their other selves do, especially the mad ones. It's so normal for Loki and everyone around him in his reality to know he's been a lunatic in other lifetimes that it's weird to be standing on (an) Asgard and viewed differently, as if those mentions are from left-field.

People like to talk about themselves, so he perks up and twists the conversation in the opposite direction. ]

Oh, there's the standard axe-throwing and carousing at the tavern, learning to ride the spider-horses is always a hilarious way to spend the afternoon if you're the one watching, and the Aesir throw parties for new arrivals. It's been happening regularly enough, dragon panic notwithstanding. What do you do for fun, ordinarily?

[winscenario]

[ It's not even that he likes to talk about himself. In truth, he loves to get to know others, to hear about their lives, but Loki's comment did seem to come a bit out of nowhere for a guy with absolutely no frame of reference. He never even imagined that any version of gods would be real in any other reality, so to him Loki's little more than a stranger at the moment. He'll have to forgive the awkwardness. ]

Well, I like to read, listen to music, play chess, exercise. Talk to people and get to know them too, that's always fun and exciting. What about you?

[ikols]

[ Mindful of his answers, he shorts through his Midgardian hobbies and comes up short on all but a couple, disparate as they are. ]

I like to gamble and cook, when I threw parties in Manhattan I would make everything including my own punch. But, as I said, there are enough parties going on here usually.

[ Theft, breaking and entering, tricking satans ... these aren't hobbies he thinks Jim will take kindly to. What else could he add? ... Oh! ]

I do like Midgardian coffee shops, which won't come as a surprise. [ Given he introed himself with one of his projects, on the search for cocoa beans. ] They're a real novelty! I wish we had one here, even if it didn't have wifi.

[winscenario]

I like to gamble. Well, not necessarily to bet credits, actually-- I like card games. Poker, blackjack... go fish. [ He smiles at Loki, shooting him a wink. ] They're fun. We could play sometime.

[ That's the whole point of knowing someone's interests after all, figuring out stuff they can do together. ]

Can't argue with you there. A coffee shop around here would be pretty great. [ His eyes sweep over Loki, expression amused. ] You're a very modern god.

[ikols]

I'll see if I can rustle up some cards.

[ Or if somebody will make a set for a favour, if Frigg isn't feeling generous toward her not-son for once. ]

Thank you, [ pleased to be called modern since most Asgardians wouldn't be, ] I'm from Manhattan.

[ NEW YORK PRIIIIIIIDE!!! ]

[winscenario]

[ A set of cards should be fairly easy to manage, even if there might not be any around for reference. Not that it should be much of a priority when there's so much lacking around here, but, well. They do need entertainment too. ]

Oh, are you? Who'd have thought. [ His tone is teasing, but not malicious. ] I'm from Iowa, but I lived in San Francisco. That is, until I became Captain.

[ikols]

[ The blep of his tongue that answers that teasing is haughty, but he looks intrigued when he asks, ]

I thought captains of things had to be wrinkled and briny, lashed with experience all over their face in wrinkles after years of grinding their way to the top. Well, you might have ground a little ...

[ In a manner of speaking, fighting down an amused smirk. ]

What are you the captain of, exactly?

[winscenario]

[ Jim lets out an amused laugh, shaking his head with a grin. ]

Yes, that's what most people expect. Can't really fault you for that.

[ Jim's fast track career is incredibly unusual even in his own reality, he's not surprised at all to find that it's not commonplace in other worlds. If anything he might find it surprising if it's the norm anywhere out there. ]

A starship. She's called the Enterprise, and she's the flagship of the United Federation of Planets. However, not a lot of grinding involved for me to get to where I am. Just... a lot of hard work, stubbornness, and I suppose it helped that I nearly got myself killed to save Earth from being blown up. Guess Starfleet thought it'd be a nice way to express their gratitude.

[ikols]

Sounds reasonable. [ Also hilarious, despite him keeping everything but a grin under wraps. ] Save the Earth? Here's a starship, go wild.

Is that why you're not phased by coming here, you've been to other realms, uh, planets before?

[winscenario]

Something like that, yes. [ He chuckles. Well, he got a ship and the rank he wanted so he can't really complain, can he? ]

I have. This is still very much different from anything I've ever seen, but I've been in a lot of places that were unlike anything I'd ever seen before then, so I'm used to this whole... adaptation process.

[ Not quite so used to the thought that he might not be able to leave anytime soon, though. ]

[ikols]

[ He remembers watching the second round of wanderers blowing up, exploding as their bodies entered New Asgard and couldn't handle the realm's pressure ... aura ... whatever it was, that turned them into chunks of gristle and gore on the pavement, people dripping off brick walls. It sticks in his mind the casual way it was revealed by his not-mother Frigg that it had happened with the first round, with him too, and as he looks at Jim he wonders if the gods here rebuilt his body accurately enough in their private houses. It would have been nice to see a pair of hands that had actually touched a starship before, a novelty.

Oh, well. Technically, he supposed, his own hands had never wielded any magic but Skadi's.

Loki has learned that very few wanderers can handle the grim information he's learned. Things are going so well with Jim that he can't bear to be glib about it, not having once already felt like an oversharing, lonely cliché of a deity. You haven't been anywhere at all, he sadly thinks. Not until today. That's why he makes sure his teasing smile reaches his eyes. ]

It's good that you know how to handle the situation. Very professional of you, Captain.

[winscenario]

[ Of all the people, Jim actually might be the best person to tell something like that. Granted, actually exploding is still a little different than what he's used to, but transporter beams do pretty much that, take them apart into small pieces, send the information across great distances, then put them back together. Jim's been taken apart and put back together more times than he can count, but that hardly matters to him.

His experiences are still here, in his mind. Even if it's not exactly the same body, it's still him. He's been to every place he remembers, he's experienced all the things he knows. Even if he did it in a different body, that would hardly matter to him. ]

Why thank you. [ He tilts his head at Loki, smiling. ] Now, what's good to eat and drink around here? No coffee, I know. I'm guessing no chocolate, either. Do they have tea?