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Test Drive - 002

TEST DRIVE 002

Welcome to Aterat!

Here is our second Test Drive Meme! There are a lot of areas of the city to explore, so please have a look around! In case you need a little help getting started, I've included a few prompts below, or feel free to start your own! Exploration and player initiative are the names of the game here!

NOTE: While you do need an invite to apply to the game, you do NOT need one to tag or top level on the Test Drive!

Helpful Links to Get Started

Arrival & General Information | Locations & Bestiary | Residences & Housing Info | Rules & FAQ (ask questions here!)

A. Free-Fallin'

Not exactly, but close enough. You have just arrived and received a strange satchel from a tiny, strange little man and are left more or less to your own devices (more information on what to expect upon arrival can be found here)! Follow directions to the north and check out the housing, or maybe have a look around the Historium and try to get some information from that giant glowing ball, see what you can waste your meager starter coin on in the Market District, or maybe just meet the neighbors.

B. For the Benefit of Mr. Kite there will be a show tonight on trampolines

Just to the north of the market district, a small carnival has been set up in a square. As the sun sets, the stalls around it come alive with callers, carnival games, roasted meats are available as well as sweet treats. The games have prizes, stuffed animals and the like, and there are musicians. It's almost as though it's all in celebration of something, but what is anyone's guess. You're welcome to attend and see what's what, and any performers among the gathered are welcome to take part. The whole affair is very mirthful and fluid.

C. Delve Down into the Dark and Deep

If you're a more adventurous type, why not see what all the fuss is about in the sewers, or, if heroics are more your style, maybe look into why people seem to think it's fine to have monsters living just under their feet. Or just use the opportunity to keep your skills sharp. The sewers are pretty vast, after all.

D. Tell Phone™

Why not give that phone a shot and see who answers?

If you have any questions at all about setting or what is or isn't acceptable, please submit it on the FAQ!

If you would like to explore any aspect of the setting more indepth, please PM the mod account OR comment here! All comments are screened!

» N A V I G A T I O N

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Singing. Violin. Dancing. Interesting. Lauri-ell looks towards the performance and really doesn’t even know what to do with it. What. Even was this?

“Forgive me, but is it good? I haven’t ever heard singing before. Or a violin.”

Kree society had sort of done away with that stuff a long time ago.

Caelan opened his mouth to respond to the question, but then paused for a moment as he considered what she said properly... Never heard singing or violins before...? It was hard to imagine any world that didn’t have music, and yet he also couldn’t have imagined a lot of things about other worlds he’d heard since arriving. That was... rather sad in a way. Even if one could pose that if they’d never heard of something that they couldn’t really miss it.

Alright, he could work with this. Caelan’s expression was kind rather than playful as he turned his attention away from the music and properly to his tall companion. “It’s a fun and joyful thing. This performance is meant to lift spirits, make you move and feel happy. To say it’s good would be subjective of my own experiences in listening and playing though. Tell me, do you like how it sounds, miss?”

Does she like how it sounds? Yes, this is an important question, and Lauri-ell closes her eyes to pay careful attention to the noises. There are things on the violin she doesn’t like as much, the higher notes perhaps a bit more shrill on her senses than she’d care for, but... But she thinks it works.

“Yes,” she says, but not until after the song ends. “I believe it is very pleasant. Does it all sound the same?”

Caelan was patient, waiting for her to formulate an opinion. If anything, he respected that she gave the remainder of the song a chance by listening to it through to the end. Even if he might have made different choices for the piece, it didn’t matter. What mattered was what Lauri-ell thought. When she did answer, he grinned lightly and nodded. “Then there’s your answer, it’s good!”

Ah... Now the next question was a good one, and it was one that he’d undoubtedly demonstrate if she expressed further interest. For now, he settled for answering. “It doesn’t, there are different tones and moods that a song can portray. Meant to evoke different responses, yeah? There are others similar to this, to generate a merry energy. Other’s meant to sooth and relax you, or somber to honour someone gone. There’re many other kinds, and lots of ways to make it. Singing and the violin are just a couple.”

“Intriguing,” the woman observed before returning her attention to the performers, who were taking a bow so they could go on break. Oh no.

“Is there not to be more of this music?” She asks, turning her attention to Caelan with clear distress. “I have been learning much today. Like how the street vendors will reward me for damaging their stalls!”

Caelan raised a brow at her obvious distress, oh dear. That wouldn’t do at all, so he shook his head quickly, “No there will be more, they’re just taking what we like to call an intermission. A break!” He gestured at the departing musicians with a nod, “Performing can be tiring after a while. In the woman’s case she could risk straining her vocal cords to keep singing for too long. Violinists can also develop sores on their neck from holding it that way for so much time, so breaks and buffers between the instrument and your neck are important.”

He gestured to his own, “I wear a lot of higher collared shirts to help with that when I play. Others tie neck-kerchiefs sometimes. I also was actually just taking a break myself to enjoy some of the treats here, if you wish to hear more music.”

Her description of her other discoveries did make him wonder just where this woman was from, “Rewards for— Oh dear... Miss, am I correct in guessing that you’ve never been to a carnival before either? Those are rewards for winning their challenging games, which most don’t do so well at I might add.”

Oh, a break. Yes, that made sense. She would be excited to hear more then. Hoping it will be soon the woman sits, dumping all of her prizes before her. She selects one, a lime green rabbit, and holds it out toward Caelan.

"I wasn't certain at first. At the first place I threw the orbs well and they stuck in a wall. So the person gave me a squishy fake-animal and I thought it was perhaps a bribe to get me to move on. That he feared extortion. I tried to return it, but he sent me away, saying 'more like you could run me outta business'."

She attempts to mimic the man's gruff voice, but it just sounds silly coming from her.

"I went to another, and it happened again. And again. I would have bought the things had I the money. But you say it's about games?"

Caelan tilted his head at the proffered rabbit, reaching out and tugging an ear lightly as he raised a skeptical brow at the colour. Rabbits weren’t green, even the fae kind. What silliness... Which he approved of, humans could be so imaginative when they wanted to be. “Yeah? That... sounds about right.” He responded, eyeing her impressive muscles again. What? They were impressive.

“To be honest, they’re probably enjoying the influx of traffic from your display more than they would if you’d just bought one, which you couldn’t have. That’s not the point, after all.” He laughed a little, trying to picture some of the looks on their faces. “It’s good to see someone win their games now and again. Makes people think they should try for themselves, prove their strength or skill once they know it’s an attainable goal.” Even if... Well he wasn’t sure that anyone could quite do what Lauri-ell had.

He had the distinct feeling they’d make far more than the cost of the stuffed dolls that she had collected in the next little while alone. “A carnival is meant to be a fun outing with family and friends, the food, the games, the music, it’s all a celebration. The games are a good way to pass the time, and the prizes are a little more incentive to keep playing even if you lose.”

With a thoughtful hum, Caelan held out a bit of his deep-fried pastry to her, covered in powder sugar. “Here, why don’t you try some of the food while your at it. It’s entirely unhealthy, but delicious.” He was mostly finished with it anyway, and it really seemed like she was enjoying learning and trying the rest of what the carnival had to offer. “You know, I don’t think you gave me a name yet, Miss. You can call me Caelan.”

The explanation is a pretty good one and Lauri-ell definite felt it was worthy of appreciation to know all of this. She considers this very carefully before nodding along. She supposed she could understand. Something like a post-battle celebration.

"I am Lauri-ell. And I thank you for your explanation. I worried I had upset them."

“Pleasure to meet you, Lauri-ell.” He responded with a smile, before he shook his head a little. “No, you certainly didn’t do that; so you might as well enjoy your winnings.” Setting back a bit, he added. “I’m guessing your one of the newest abductees of this place, yeah? It’s a little confusing to arrive here to begin with, but I expect more so when you seem to be from a very different place than this.”

“Newest? There are more?” She asks, truly distressed by that. She must save them and return them to their homes and then she can return to home and her Emperor.

“I cannot find anything here electrically powered. The communicators are very low end. I haven’t even seen a single powered vehicle. How am I to return to the fleet like this?”

“Afraid so, I arrived a few months ago myself. People seem to arrive at random intervals, all for the sake of ‘helping to rebuild’ this world.” He explained with a little shrug and a tone that suggested that it was as absurd as it sounded.

He wished he had something more helpful to tell her at this point, but unfortunately the situation was what it was for now.

“We can’t go home until this world decides that it’s done with us from what I understand. At least none of us have discovered anything to suggest otherwise.” Probably not the answer she was hoping to hear... “As for the technology? Unfortunately, I can assist even less with that. I’m from a world much like this one, which is apparently quite behind other worlds. This ‘communicator’ as you put it, is actually incredibly advanced based on the technology in my world.”

Smiling wryly, he shrugged a little. “Bloody things are a nuisance to carry around.”

Oh. The woman looks a bit disappointed to hear that. There probably weren't even laser pistols were there? Disappointing. And her Universal Weapon wasn't even around. Which left her feeling undefended.

"It is a very low level communicator. It doesn't even seem to be strong enough to reach another planetary body, much less interstellar communication functions. I could not call part of the fleet to come and collect me."

Caelan might have directed her to see Raimon if she had voiced that concern, because if anyone could get her something that seemed impossible, it was him.

Instead, the selkie was listening with a vaguely perplexed expression on his face. In theory he understood every word she said, but most of it sounded quite strange and he wasn’t quite sure he was right either. “No, definitely not capable of that. Damned things aren’t even waterproof.” He added with a shrug, “Then again, maybe with someone as advanced as yourself arriving the Aspects might upgrade the devices again. That’s what they did after a bunch of other people from more future eras showed up. We started out with enchanted crystals, then they switched them out for these tell-phones.” Without even asking, he might add.

Yes, but would it be a KREE weapon? Probably not. But asking isn't something she sees a point to.

"They are not resistant to water?" she asks, so very confused. "Where would water even get in to a proper communicator? I do not understand any of this. Surely they are just hiding these things. I cannot understand the idea of a world that can bring people here against their will without the level of technology needed to travel the stars."

“My thoughts exactly. If they did a proper job of it then these things should be far less finicky.” He shrugged slightly, not that he really put a whole lot of faith in the Aspects knowing what was what when it came to technology any more than he did. The selkie had a feeling they just got ideas and pulled random bits and things out of a hat.

On the subject of how it could be done without technology, he shrugged again. “Afraid that anything is possible. Maybe they are doing as you say, and hiding the good gadgets and gizmos from the rest of us. Or perhaps they used magic, which is what I put my money on at the moment. At least given the over all appearance of this wold and some of the things there are here.”

"I have known magic users. The Emperor's Husband is the Court Magician and he manipulates reality upon a whim. Yet I do not see that sort of thing prepared here."

Or perhaps there are wizards cloistered away in their quiet corners, planning their mischief.

"What is the purpose of this place then? If I am to be here, what purpose do I serve?"

Hmm... Futuristic technology, magic, space travel? What a place this woman came from! Caelan was quite curious, but her question was a good one. “The general story fed to us is this place experienced some sort of world ending event. They’re looking for our help to ‘rebuild,’ but many of us aren’t suited for such things. They’ve even brought children here, so I don’t know that it’s as clear cut as they make it sound.”

His expression softened a little, “So I’m afraid to say that your ‘purpose’ is up for debate. I had a very different purpose in my own world, I’ve had to find other things to do here.” Waving at the groups of people wandering by, he continued. “Some people open businesses, some people join the guard, some help with repairs, I found a place among a group called the gullwings for exploring this place when I’m not busking at the market. They keep me distracted for now.” Hopefully Lauri-Ell would be able to find something that suited her.

Yes, Hala was indeed a very interesting world while it was... Well, while it was.

"Isn't distraction a negative thing to have? It impairs one's function."

Caelan raised a brow at that, head rolling to the side thoughtfully. “Indeed it can be, but it also can be used to keep your mind off that which you can’t control or help. Which, in my case, aids to the opposite. Gives me something productive to do, probably keeps me out of trouble too.”

Debatable, Caelan... So debatable...

Still, it was better to be nosy around this world and keeping himself busy than obsessing over how things might’ve been going at home without him. Months gone by and he was sure everything had probably a mess, or maybe they’d carried on without him entirely. Both something he hoped and a small part of him feared...

Well, she doesn't know about that. Distraction can reduce one's battle sharpness. And make one miss important details if they were an accuser like Lauri-Ell.

"So this is a good distraction? A positive one? Like television?"

“Television?” He parroted back for a moment, thinking on it. Yes... He’s not really entirely familiar with that himself. Luckily for him, Holly had mentioned it on more than one occasion. “Perhaps it is. Carnivals are a fun sort of entertainment like television is supposed to be from what I’ve heard, anyway...?”

He’s... Going with yes, if only because television sounded like something people would relax while watching, and watching the entertainers at a carnival could be relaxing as well.

... Depending on the entertainer, of course. “So, I’ll say that it is; but you’ll have to forgive my lack of certainty on the matter. Never watched television so my knowledge is second hand.”

“I have not seen much of it. My sister allowed me the use of hers in her apartment while she was away on Imperial business.”

Still, her eyes look longingly toward the place the entertainers had been.

“Do you think they would come back if I gave them some of my soft fake animals?”

Caelan offered a small, slightly amused smile at that. “They might, but rather than give up your well-earned prizes, I could always take their place while they’re on break? I probably would have joined them anyway when they got back.” He pushed himself up to his feet, snagging his own violin from its resting place as he went. He liked to entertain after all, and entertaining someone new to music would be an honour in a way.

The question was, what sort of music would she like to hear? It wasn’t as though he could ask considering her experience. “You liked what they played before, you want more like that?”

“I do not know what else there is for me to want other than it. I have heard only one piece.”

Is it right to call it a piece? She doesn’t know. Lauri-ELL was so far out of her depth here.

“I hope the Emperor brings music back to the Kree.”

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