Test Drive Meme

[espigeonage]

chirp
Because all our characters are the modern reincarnates of the characters we know and love, you need a modern mundane AU! Post your character with a couple details about who they are now. Use a prompt to set the scene! And tag around.

->Stranding Shower Inclement weather has suddenly forced you to take shelter. There's someone else under this overhang or bus stop - this might take a while, so you might as well get to know them.

->Mafia Menace Armed thugs with catlike mutations are attacking someone to tell them to stay out of the metaplot! This will end well!

->Cliffside Calamity Vegas has turned into a city atop a mountain. Things are somehow intact, but now the front door to something you have to get in or out of overlooks a sheer drop.

->Superhuman Sighting You have an interest in seeing one of the numbered - is that one there?

->Superhuman Surprise You felt hollow for a moment, and now you're numbered! Suddenly you're that much closer to canon and manifesting a mutation, a power, or a strange memory! Probably in public!

->Wild Card Combine prompts or pick something less alliterative! Monsters! Cultists! Boring days at the mall!

Comments

Harry Dresden | The Dresden Files

[no_love_potions]

A
[Talk about your sticky situations. Harry had known that trouble was going to find him eventually if he, intrepid reporter that he is, kept poking his nose into the recent rash of mob attacks. And found him trouble had in the form of some augmented mob goons who were intent on roughing him up. He'd evaded them for awhile before they'd caught up with him in a blind alley. It all seemed lost until that weird hollowness struck again and when it cleared, he was holding a six foot length of carved oak in his hand. He didn't have time to think about it, though, when one of the goons came for him. Instinctively, he whipped the staff out and shouted the word that had come to him in a previous Echo.]

Forzare!

[And the blast of force erupts like a cannonball from the staff, streaks across the alley and catches the mobster square in the chest. The impact carries him up and out of the alley and through a window all the way across the street. Whoah, that was... way more than he'd ever thrown into that spell before and for a second, he's just staring across the road with the thugs.]

Whoah....


B
[This time, for once, Harry isn't sticking his nose into things that will get him into trouble. He's actually just out, minding his own damn business, even drinking a coffee when randomly, out of the blue, an Echo comes in.

Spacing out for a few steps, he barely notices the person coming up to him before he bumps into them. Fortunately, the impact knocks him out of the Echo trance.]

Oops, sorry.

[Unfortunately, he's not yet aware of just what this Echo returns and makes the mistake of making and holding eye contact with this person for a split second too long....]


C
[Wildcard. Hit me with one of the other options or come at me with your own. Whatever.]

C

[onecream_fivesugar]

[It had only been a few days since she last saw him... but honestly with everything that had happened since then, it felt like it had been forever. Or that it might not ever happen at all, she for one was incredibly grateful that she'd get the enjoy the simple pleasure of having her dad pick her up again. Just to see him again was a huge relief in her heart.

With two very uncomfortable brushes with the mafia behind her now, she knew one thing. She couldn't keep this a secret anymore. The whole being one of the numbered thing. She'd have to tell him, today would have to be that day.

She stood a good distance further away from the edge of the curb than she normally would while she waited for him. The edge of the road and her didn't really get along at the moment.

...For obvious that reasons most certainly involve kidnapping.]

[no_love_potions]

[Fifty-two hours and seventeen minutes. That was exactly how long it had been since Harry had last seen Robyn, he only realized now that some part of his mind had been counting off every last minute.

Every one of those hours had been filled with a sort of panic he couldn't describe. The last time he'd eaten anything had been only a few hours after that and sleeping was not an option from the moment he'd realized that nobody knew where she was. Phone calls and searching. That was all that had filled his time. Right up until he got that last call.

His little girl was okay and needed him to pick her up.]

[It had taken a conscious effort not to slam the gas pedal to the floor all the way there, but he'd managed it. Even so, he takes that last corner a little too fast and the car lurches to a stop when he sees her there. He realizes a second after the car door's open that he hadn't even bothered with a seatbelt, but that's forgotten soon enough as he rushes around the vehicle toward her.]

Robyn!

[What he saw be damned, he wasn't going to calm down until he had her.]

[onecream_fivesugar]

[She... Well she looked better than when she was trapped in a dingy old warehouse not too long ago. She had borrowed a change of clothes from a friend and had managed to clean up little bit before she called him. That didn't fix everything though, her eyes were still red from hours of crying and she looked absolutely exhausted. Harry wasn't the only one who hadn't slept much in the last fifty some hours.

When she see's the car come around the corner she flinches. It brings back some bad memories as to how this entire thing started a couple days ago. ...But when she sees her dad come out of the car her lips curl into the most sincere smile she's had since she left the house a few days ago.

She tries to match his pace to meet him, but she's still too tired and she wobbles and stumbles every few steps. ...Eventually she just gives up and holds her arms out. She had been through this a couple times over the last few hours.]

[no_love_potions]

[He'd heard people talk about thoughts coming at a mile a minute but never really experienced it himself, until right now. She'd changed clothes somewhere along the line. Those weren't her clothes at all. She looked tired, and hungry. She'd been crying. Somebody had made that happen. Find out who.

But all of that can wait until later. The distance is crossed quickly and he reaches down to grab Robyn and hug her like there's no tomorrow. Because for a little while there was almost worried there wasn't going to be.]

It's okay. You're okay. I've got you...

[It's hard to tell if he's talking to her or himself.]

[onecream_fivesugar]

[Robyn makes a slightly muffled noise as she's pressed against her dad tight in the hug. She wraps her arms around him as tightly as she can and buries her face into his chest. She feels tears coming on again, but these are different than the ones she had cried over the last couple days.

She was just so happy to see him again.]

I-I-Ididn'tthinkIwasgoingtoseeyouagain!

[no_love_potions]

[He's not letting go any time soon. Even if he can't see them, he knows when the tears start and he hugs her a little tighter, shaking his head. He blinks rapidly, managing to keep it together mostly for her sake.]

It was never gonna go down like that. [He pulls back a little bit, just enough to look at her.] Not ever, you hear me? No matter what it took.

[onecream_fivesugar]

[She's fine with him not letting go, she's not looking to do that either right now. When he pulls back she looks up at him with tear filled eyes.]

I know... I just- I was just...

[She sniffs and moves to wipe her cheeks and nose against her shoulder. So much for clean clothes, but she really doesn't want to let go right now.]

So scared... it was awful...

[no_love_potions]

I know, but everything's okay now. We're going home.

[So much for clean clothes indeed. He makes a mental note to look into who she got those from. It was clear that somebody had helped her out and he owes whoever that somebody is big time. That's the first big question he needs answered right after finding out who took her in the first place and why.]

Here. [He reaches into his coat pocket and comes back up with some tissues he'd brought along just in case and uses them to wipe the tears off of her cheeks. Then he goes and sticks the whole wad of them over her nose.] Blow.

[onecream_fivesugar]

Y-you have no idea how good that sounds right now.

[Robyn normally would put up a fuss whenever he tried to do anything like that. She's give him a hard time and say that she was big girl and could do it herself. Today was different, today she let him dry her tears and tried her best to smile. It was a lot harder to do than it normally was.

When he stuffs the tissues right in her nose however she'll shake her head and pull away a little.]

Daaaaaaad!

[She'll huff just a little, then she'll move in to blow her nose on the tissue. She'd give it to him this time.]

[no_love_potions]

[He knows she'd normally give him hell for it, and despite appearances, he's also aware that she can take care of it herself, but this is far from normal circumstances. Besides, he can't change the past two days, can't unmake what happened. All he can do now is whatever he can to make Robyn feel safe and happy again.

The big questions could wait. Right now, dad has to make things okay. That's his job.]

Robyyyyyyyn.

[He returns the smile, dealing with the whole nose situation and then brings her in for one last hug before straightening up and keeping his arm around her to help with her wobbly legs.]

Come on, let's go.

[onecream_fivesugar]

[She wanted the last two days to be as far from her mind as possible, so... she could put up with his shenanigans for today. They didn't take all the fear and uncertainty she felt away, but it didn't feel as all consuming as it did earlier.

She'll give him the biggest squeeze she can muster when he hugs her one last time and gladly accepts help to the car.]

Y-yeah let's go.

[Once she's seated she'll look out her window in thought until he gets into the driver seat.]

Dad. I-uh...

[She stops and fumbles to find the words she wants to say, eventually she just just hangs her head, her eyes focused on nothing in specific.]

[no_love_potions]

[It's only when they're actually in the car and moving again that a little bit of the stress and adrenaline of the ordeal fades. He'd been prepared for much, much worse than popping out and giving her a lift home. The gun in the armrest compartment was evidence enough of how far he'd been willing to go.

He'd take that out in the morning. Robyn didn't need to know that little tidbit.]

Yeah?

[It takes a second but when she doesn't continue he looks over at her, frowning a bit.]

Hey, what is it?

[onecream_fivesugar]

[She let's out a sigh as the car starts moving. It's feels... well nice, normal. Something she hadn't felt much over the last two days. She glances back up, only to see that slight frown on Harry's face. Her eyes will shift down and focus on her feet at floor of the car. She takes a deep breath, okay Robyn, let's get this over with.]

There's some things I haven't really told you about.

...A lot of things.

[no_love_potions]

Sounds serious.

[And considering everything that just happened, it probably is. He doesn't start driving yet, noting her... very unRobyn-like demeanor right now and shifts and shifts slightly in his seat.]

... I want to hear it, but are you sure you don't want to get some food and maybe some sleep before we sit down for any serious talks? You look like you need both.

[onecream_fivesugar]

I-it is. Well... a lot of it is.

[She looked up at him a little surprised when he asked if she wanted to food and sleep first. She was sure he'd be gung-ho for some explanation when she offered them. He was a reporter after all.

She'll consider it for a moment but he stomach rumbles and that pretty much makes the decision for her.]

Okay... Let's do that first.

[She'll wait and look out the window before she tosses in.]

Dad... You know about the people out there with the powers, right?

[Of course he did, but this was the easiest way for her to get on point. She wanted to at least tell him something.]

[no_love_potions]

[Except this isn't an interview and he isn't speaking with an interviewee. She's his daughter adn she's just had a terrible scare and she's hungry and tired and needs to be back home yesterday. In this situation, answers can wait. No matter how gung-ho he typically is about getting them.

That said, the Numbered was something he'd consider giving his eyeteeth to get an insight into. They're already underway when he glances over at Robyn again, sighing a little bit.]

Yeah, of course I do. What about them?

[onecream_fivesugar]

[She doesn't look at him at first. she had never planned on telling him about it, she thought he'd just get mad or not understand what was happening. There were a lot of bits about her he didn't know, this was just another one of those things.

Eventually she'll glance back over and meet his eyes just briefly, she'll glance away again after.]

I'm uh... Well I-I-I'm kind sorta one of them... More than kind of sorta actually.

...I've been one for awhile now.

[no_love_potions]

[At first, it's almost like he didn't hear the words that came from Robyn at all. He heard what she said but his brain seems to want to take a minute or two to catch up. Then it does, and pieces click together.

The Locke City superhumans. The ones that had thrown down with a monster from a Godzilla movie.

The ones with some kind of weird grudge against a multinational weapons manufacturer.

Robyn is one of them.

She has been for awhile.

He didn't even know.

It's about then that he realizes that the car had begun drifting dangerously close to the side of a building. Snapping back to reality in a flash he swerves away from the sudden impact and the vehicle lurches to a stop as he hits the brakes. Shaking off the near impact, he turns to Robyn again, staring at her.]

... What?

[Maybe food can wait after all. Shit, that was louder than he'd hoped, he didn't yell, did he?]

[onecream_fivesugar]

[Maybe this was a terrible time to get this off her chest. ...In fact she was sure when the car started drifting toward that building that it was a terrible idea. She'll fling her arms over her face to try and brace herself.]

Dad? DAD!?

[It's about then that he swerves away and she's left breathing heavily. She's had a few two many close calls at the moment and she's right back into panic mode from those.

It takes her a little after the car is stopped to lower her arms, only to see her dad staring at her. She flinches, then curls up and tries to make herself as small as possible when he asks the question. She chews on her lower lip in absolute dread of his reaction.

He may not of yelled but it didn't take a whole lot to put her into a total freak out right now.]

[no_love_potions]

[It takes a few more moments of sorting before Harry's ready to talk again. Suddenly, everything seems a lot clearer now. Missing curfew, extra secrecy and the mob of kids that had invaded their place on her birthday. Christ, he'd heard a good amount of the super-people were children but... how many of them had had powers like that? What could Robyn do? Even this cause of this whole kidnapping thing had suddenly snapped into place. That had been eating at him, what on Earth could his daughter have been involved in that would lead to something like this? Now he knew.

So, the question is... what does he do with this? How does a parent react to finding out his kid is mixed up in superbeings and goddamned aliens and the mob. Looking at her now, curled up in fear, there's only one answer that comes to mind.]

Hey. [He puts the car in park and reaches across the space between them... and wraps an arm around her to tug her close again.] Sorry I scared you.

B. Hope this works.

[scarlet_devil]

[The collision almost knocks Emilia over, and that earns him an angry curse in Romanian and a demand to watch where he was going. But then eye contact is made...

Her soul gave the impression that it was that of a teen from a rich, European family on the surface, that she had immense pride in her family, and feared to lose things she considered 'hers'. Friends, family, possessions... She kept a hold of them fiercely.

Deep down, there's a sense she is hiding something, though.

Besides that, there is an image of a young girl in a pink dress with bat wings, her skin much too pale.

Just like that, it all fades, leaving a very confused Emilia.]

What...?

Just fine

[no_love_potions]

[His apology is cut off abruptly when their eyes meet and the images rush through his mind. No, more than that. For that brief eternity he's there, seeing these things and understanding.]

[And Emilia sees him as well.

Two men. Mirror images, opposites. The first is... the man she sees right in front of her. Good enough, with strong ties to his family and a few rough patches here and there that show that not everything has been perfect. There are scars there, marks where he's seen and lived things most people shy away from and the various hurts that come with living.

The other is... different. The other man stands with his back to her, dressed in black and scarred from battle, holding fire and ice in his hands. The ground at his feet is scorched and littered with remnants of the dead. Slowly, the two start to blend together....]

[And then the vision is over and the regular city street comes back, complete with the tall man who'd just bumped into her sharing the same confused expression.]

What...?

[scarlet_devil]

[She blinks a few times, the images still sharp in her mind, even as she looked away, wondering just what exactly that was. An echo or something?

Now that she's gotten a good look at him, it turns out she just bumped into Robyn's dad... What are the odds?]

Just... what was all that just now?

...Interesting way for us to run into each other again.

A

[boxingbuff]

[Ladd had been spending most of his morning enjoying the peace for once, strolling down the street in his police uniform with nary a care in the world. Even if he had gotten those weird echoes now, things didn't seem that bad. Well, for him at least.

The window in front of him suddenly shatters, as a man is sent rocketing through it. It's enough to make anyone jump out of their skin, but Ladd shows less shock than that. He gives the wreck a confused look before turning to where it came from.]

...What the hell?

[He quickly crosses the street and enters the alley, giving the assembled people, and Harry, a curious look.]

So, I'm guessing one of you monkeys has an explanation for why some guy just entered that store across the street without using the door. [His eyes dart from person to person.] Hmm? Hmm?