TEST DRIVE MEME

[bibliofilo]

TEST DRIVE MEME

> The Park. Man, what a nice day out. Why not enjoy it? I'm sure -- shit, yep, there's some echo monsters.
> The Mall. Exactly what it says on the tin! Dodge the hordes of teenage mallrats or take part, whichever suits your tastes.
> Rainy Day. Agh, it's fucking awful out. And is it raining those vermilion things?? Now you've got an Echo to contend with on top of everything else. Find some shelter, quick!
> PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, HOW FUN
> The most horribly kitschy Arts and Crafts Fair you can imagine.
> NEW YEARS. What better way to start out the new year than to learn that everything you know is a lie? Or if you are already acquainted with the network pass out some resolutions.
> A food fight has just broken out in the cafeteria. Join? Flee? The choice is yours alone.
> Wild Card! Make up your own.

Comments

winry thalberg (winry rockbell) | fullmetal alchemist

[endthiscycle]

a. rainy day

[The bad weather seemed to mirror her bad mood rather well. Bad moods weren't particularly unusual for one Winry Thalberg but considering events as of late they were becoming more frequent and more volatile. She had always liked Locke when she had visited in the summer in past years, but the knowledge that this place would now be her home didn't sit well.

At the very least she managed to get to a bus stop area before she got too wet. So there she stood, looking out at the glass panels where droplets were falling hard and all appeared dark.

The city looked so strange and different in the winter. Much more foreign than it had ever seemed before. Much more dangerous too, though she had a valid reason for feeling that concerning all the news reports lately. An earthquake had happened recently, gang violence was on the rise, reports of strange occurrences.

She breathed in deep before exhaling. Everything seemed to be turning topsy turvey.

She hoped the bus came soon. She hoped the rain stopped soon. The last thing she needed was to get sick]

b. detention

[Winry had always had a bit of a temper, but it had never landed her in detention before. She used to be such a good student and it was a bit of a shock and blow to her pride to wind up here.

Well. No point whining. Starting arguments with every person who looked at her weird or said anything bad about her brother was not the best course of action. With an irritated grunt she brought out some schematics and started working on a recent idea for a gadget.

Her time would probably best be devoted to some home but eh.]

the park

[It was a much nicer day than usual, and Winry's mood reflected that. Going out and getting some fresh air had been a good idea. She hadn't realized there was an event going on at the park until she saw many people gathered, some drawing on the pavement and walkways with chalk and many others with sketchbooks.

Art had never really been Winry's forte. She didn't have any skills in it herself and quite honestly she didn't get it most of the time. Still, she could always respect the passions of others and she walking around slowly, checking out what people were working on.

The young girl was careful not to step on anyone or thing and paused when she saw something that caught her interest. She hesitated for a moment. For the most part she had kept to herself since coming to the states but that really wasn't her nature. After deciding to go for it she just approached the person doodling]

That is very interesting.

b

[mysteltinn]

[Nearby, Owen was flopped over a desk, sulking. Not because HE'S in detention. That's not really new for HIM. But because Winry's there. Probably on his behalf.

He handled this with all dignity and grace- occasionally giving a melodramatic siiiigh, or flopping over on his other side. Luckily the teacher was just there to make sure no one burned the school down, and mostly ignored him

Which honestly just made him 'act' even more whiny]

[endthiscycle]

[Her eyes drift over to Owen who is flopped over the table and despite her mood she couldn't help but smile. A quick glance towards the teacher proved he wasn't paying attention and she leaned over to give him a nudge]

[mysteltinn]

[Owen rolls his eyes up at his sister, mouth twisted in an over-exaggerated pout- but eyes more honest. Sad and ashamed.]

Hey... sorry.

[More mouthed then spoken, just in case]

[endthiscycle]

[Her expression became stern and she gave a shake of her head]

It's not your fault. It's the fault of those jerks.

[mysteltinn]

[A nod. Damn straight it was! But he knew, in his belly, that Winry wouldn't get in trouble as much if not for him.

So time to correct the wrong]

I got an idea.

[A familiar and dreaded combo of words. He gestured to her blueprints, making a rolling up motion with his hands. After all, she'd be pretty mad if her stuff got messed up]

1/2

[endthiscycle]

[....uh. Winry loved her brother but.]

[endthiscycle]

What exactly is this idea?

[mysteltinn]

Just watch, and be ready

[No way he'd tell you Win, that'll ruin the performance! He stared digging in his hoodie pocket the doing... something... under his desk where the teacher can't see. Or Winry either]

[endthiscycle]

[...Winry puts her schematics away. She's not sure what Owen has in mind but it's not going to be good and she's going to heed his warning.]

[mysteltinn]

[Owen continues working for a few more minutes, glancing up at the teacher very few seconds. Before suddenly shooting up with a shriek of very believable pain. Owen has always been a good actor, but as he holds his hand in front of him the blood streaming down seems pretty realistic.

Well, unless you're used to him tossing around fake blood in drama club. And home. And anywhere he thinks it'll be dramatic. It seems he has rigged it to look like he somehow stabbed himself with a pencil.

The teacher nearly jumps out of his seat, and as he turns to see what the howling is about Own flings his hand about in 'panic', splatting the poor man, and quite a few things around him, with the 'blood'. And said teacher goes dead pale. Someone can't handle blood well, it seems]

SHITSHITSHIT!!!

[endthiscycle]

[Winry was used to Owen's dramatics, but even she actually jumped at this. If not for the fifteen years she had known her twin she would have been just as shocked. Yet she caught on and took ahold of him, giving the teacher a frightful look.]

I'll take him to the nurse's office! Come on, Owen, don't make a scene.

[mysteltinn]

NOOOO, MY SWORD HAND! WHY GODS WHY DO YOU TEST ME SO!?

[He waves his hand at the teacher for extra affect, and the poor man literally rushes them outside the room.

Once they are a bit away (and Owen has given his throat enough of a workout with more outcries to the heavens) he starts giggling, almost smearing the 'blood' on himself when he tries to muffle it]

[endthiscycle]

[Ok. That was absolutely ridiculous, but once they were out of earshot Winry was laughing too. That had gone so much better than she had been expecting, and while she knew she shouldn't be encouraging this kinda behavior he had done it for her]

And so you'll overcome your greatest trial--learning to wield swords with both hands.

[She gave him a playful little shove]

Thanks, Owen.

let's park

[darkcharge]

[ he's just got his sketchbook at the moment. it's an old, beaten up thing... Van has doodles tucked away in the back featuring some of the creatures that he has seen in some of his... pulses. echoes. whatever. he doesn't know what to make of them, but somehow they are comforting. familiar. which is fine and all...

but that is not something that Van is going to be caught drawing in public. ah ha. yeah, no way. so really his focus is more on the couple across the way from him. while their interaction isn't all that interesting, their facial expressions are...

Van's concentration, however, is broken when there's a voice over his shoulder. turning, he looks for its owner... ]

Thanks?

[endthiscycle]

[She had seen the couple herself and was rather impressed by how well he had managed to capture them. Particularly:]

You got their expressions really well. [The girl's accent was pretty thick. Summers had been spent in Locke city before, but otherwise she had spent her life in Berlin. She knew she must seem rather weird just randomly saying hi to a stranger but Winry was never really one to care much of what others thought.

And in all honesty? She was tired of butting heads with so many people.]

[darkcharge]

[ more like some guy in her class she hasn't exactly talked to... and he hasn't really conversed with her. but Van knows who she is. there's that.

he looks to the paper and then to the couple. if there is a comment about her accent, he leaves it to himself. ]

I guess. In some kind of creepy, stalkerish way.

[endthiscycle]

Well they are here at some sort of [she gave another look around] art congregation. I doubt you are the only one who drew them or some other person. And it's just drawing.

[Now that she looked at him more closely as opposed to the drawing he did seem familiar]

You..go to LHS?

[darkcharge]

[ Van gives a little amused snort. art congregation... ]

You're right. There are some other losers out here doing the same exact thing - just doodling nature and people for shits and giggles.

[ but it seems like she now recognizes him. and he nods. ]

But yeah. Goodl 'ol LHS. We have at least one class together. ...You're hard to miss.

[endthiscycle]

[Winry didn't think she really stood out that much, but she supposed anyone who was fairly new would?]

What's your name? [She wondered whether she should sit down. Standing up might be a bit rude but sitting next to him would be kinda weird. After some deliberation she just chose to lean against the nearby tree.]

[darkcharge]

[ and he's not exactly going to invite her to sit down. He just doesn't think about it. People do whatever they are more comfortable with, right? ]

It's Van.

[ leaving out the last name. It's such an awkward one. ]

[endthiscycle]

Winry. [That's what she went by anyway. Much like him she wasn't fond of her actual first name.]

What's going on here anyway? This some sort of art club, or something the park is hosting?

[darkcharge]

[ it's easy to pronounce too. not like KURURURURURURURUgi. poor person that tries to say that and ends up with a twisted tongue.

either way, he shrugs. ]

It's just something to do, I guess. It's not like DC and it's Cherry Blossom Fest or anything. For all I know some morons decided that hey, today every year we're going to come out and stalk people...

[endthiscycle]

[Winry folded her arms and raised an eyebrow at him]

You really seem fixated on labeling drawing other people as stalking.

[darkcharge]

You are kind of creeping on them. Invading their private little lives. Stealing their moment.

Seems appropriate.