LET'S [test] DRIVING

[cava]

IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN, YOU KNOW THE DRILL. Here's a few options, all stolen shamelessly from previous iterations.

> The Park. Man, what a nice day out. Why not enjoy it? I'm sure -- shit, yep, there's some echo monsters or whatever they're called.
> 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!
> Arts and Crafts Fair. WILL THE KITSCH OVERWHELM YOU


or make up your own whatever this is basic and just for the purposes of getting a new test drive up.

Comments

[crownjewel]

[Oh, jeez, she's been spotted staring. She just has to make a good impression to make up for something so dumb. She starts out a bit strong, almost yelling in her fear at being rude to this girl, an internet idol and surely one of the coolest people she's ever met in person.

It's a good thing Ruby decided to go all-out on her clothes today, or she'd feel even more embarrassed.]

Um--! Excuse me, a-aren't you...

[Her voice drops, almost to a whisper, fiddling with her phone against her chest. She manages to keep looking straight ahead, at least.]

Miss Alex?

i don't know if you're still doing this but HERE GOES

[sceptical]

[Oh, god. Grantaire's attention has been drawn, but it would have been hard for it to have not been. All he'd wanted was to do quick life drawings of passersby, but then the passerby had stopped walking and started handing it out papers, and before Grantaire knew it, he'd been too curious not to go and get one.

That had been, probably, a mistake.

He takes the pamphlet from the man - god, his expression is all seriousness and dedication and fire - and turns his head down to read it. After a moment, he cracks a grin.]

And what, exactly, is a piece of paper supposed to do about any of this?

[somethingawful]

[ Miss Alex? She totes needs a better moniker than that. Forever a work in progress tbh ]

Yeah? [ Uh-oh, Ruby she doesn't sound all that impressed. ] I guess that I am, unless I have a twinny running around with my face! That'd be a bummer!

[ Oh! ] But imagine all the trouble we could get into. There's a movie about that, isn't there?

[pianistofraielin]

Gyah! [the punch connects]

[he sways with the momentum of the blow]

[the iPod falls from his fingers]

[time seems to slow. for a fleeting moment, it looks like the headphone cord might save it from an untimely doom, but the jack pops out instead.]

[it hits the ground]

[bounces once]

[stops.]



[the world goes deathly still.]

[worlddominationbaby]

[ (..........
..........
..........
..........)

a car honks and whizzes by. ]

[crownjewel]

The Parent Trap? Oh, but you're much prettier than Lindsay Lohan!

[Well... That's honest, but it's a pretty low bar for a compliment. Ruby seems to realize this pretty fast, though, and turns even redder in the face as she tries to follow up with something better.]

I-I'm sorry if I'm bothering you, I've just been a fan of yours for a really long time and...

[She fidgets, scuffing her toe on the ground. Looks like she's run out of steam to keep embarrassing herself.]

[runarevolution]

[ It heartens him to see such enthusiasm for his pamphlets, and he squares his shoulders a little, straightens up and forces himself to remember that a smile should not be a grimace. ]

It is good to see someone else with so much enthusiasm.

[pianistofraielin]

Claraaaaaa...

[the most mournful of wails. Russel falls to his knees and sniffles as he tenderly retrieves the broken husk of his dearest of possessions]

[a screech of brakes as another driver swerves away from the right lane, flipping them off as he drives past.]

[Russel is too consumed by grief to notice. he flops over in the street, holding the iPod to his chest] How could such tragedy befall one as pure and beautiful as my precious Clara...?

[somethingawful]

[ Wow, what kind of loser actually knows the name of old movies like that?? Silently judging you, complete with the Cersei Lannister plurk emote and everything. ]

Oh, a fan.

[ Did the entire mood shift at that? Possibly; she's not exactly fond of talking with her fans over webcam, much less face-to-face. ]

I don't think autographs count for net celebs. Sorry, I guess, for bursting your bubble. [ She doesn't sound nowhere near apologetic enough for this. ]

[worlddominationbaby]

[ madeline isn't consumed with grief, though, so she jumps towards the sidewalk when that car swerves. she turns around, peering warily at him. ]

Uh... I dunno who you're talking to, but you should probably get out of the road before you get hit.

[ WHY DO YOU THINK HE'S THERE, MADELINE ]

1/2

[pianistofraielin]

No, leave me. I can't go on like this. My life is meaningless without her.

[he rolls over onto his back and fishes for the headphone cord, plugging it back in. that's...that's how clara would've wanted it...]

[an occasion as tragic as this demands an equally tragic song. he scrolls through the iPod library purely out of habit in search of something fitting]

2/2

[pianistofraielin]

[.................wait a second]

[sits up. holds up the iPod and points to it with a grin] Never mind, it's not broken after all!

[worlddominationbaby]

[ is this idiot for real.

madeline is just about ready to leave him there when a car pulls over. the drivers runs out and kneels by russel, misunderstanding his bloody state.

person: ] Hey, are you alright? Can you stand? Do you want me to call nine-one-one?

[ the person looks up at madeline, who guiltily shrinks back a bit.

person: ] Did you see what happened?

[ madeline: ] Uhhhhhh.......... [ (Oh, crap, I better get out of here!) ]

[pianistofraielin]

[............whoops]

[nervous laugh] No, no, I'm fine--haha, don't worry about me--! [he hops to his feet and dusts himself off]

[and

his hands are still covered in blood

which he realizes, horrified, only after he sees that he's smeared it all over his jeans]

[d-disaster...]

[he gives the kind stranger a very nervous smile, holds his hand over his nose as though that might cover up the evidence (it doesn't), backs up onto the sidewalk, and gives him a wave as if to say 'yes good-bye please move on there is nothing to see here']

[runarevolution]

[ Why on earth someone was inclined to wear a sweater in this heat existed in a realm well beyond Enjolras's understanding. He himself is well dressed- almost borderline formal, but not overly so. His shirt has buttons; and maybe at some point or another there was a tie involved but it's long gone now. His jeans are clean, black and fitted. His clothes all look like they were made for him; though then again, he was the sort of person that perhaps clothes were made for.

When Marius almost bumps into him, he turns. Scrutinizes the other with blue eyes that narrow just slightly. But he softens himself, or at least he tries. Though there's still a sharp edge to his expression. Maybe it's just something that couldn't be helped. ]

Always. To create change, one first has to expose the issues. And to do that, it has to start in the hearts of the people. Which as you can no doubt guess, requires a street presence.

[ Is this the part where he's supposed to say his name back? Yes? Well, he doesn't.

Woops. ]

[worlddominationbaby]

[ the stranger regards them both with a puzzled look.

stranger: ] It looks like you lost a lot of blood...?

[ meanwhile madeline is slowly inching away. ]

[pianistofraielin]

NOPE I AM TOTALLY FINE HA HA HA THANK YOU GOOD-BYE.

[dead-eyed smile. PLEASE LEAVE THIS IS VERY EMBARRASSING]

ALWAYS i'm just the slowest ever. eeee grantaire

[runarevolution]

[ There's something about the other's grin that already sets him on edge- and then he opens his mouth and oh, it's worse. He does his best not to prickle, and instead he forces a thin smile. It's a question he's heard dozens of times, it shouldn't phase him. Tells himself that it doesn't, and counts back from five inside of his head quickly just in case. ]

A piece of paper- nothing. It's just a piece of paper; but everything is "just" a simplicity, or an idea until a person gives it breath and life. That simple "piece of paper" is an idea, and a dozen voices crying out to be heard. You can't start a movement without the people, and you can't rally the people without offering the information. What it is then, supposed to do is offer information. Plant the seed, so that the blossoming of change can take root.

[chernobolt]

Victor is busy with his academics today! I am sad that I could not wait for him, but it is very important to remain consistent.

[especially with a tournament coming up against Locke U's rival.]

It is very easy to spot check, though! You do not have to lift anything unless I make a mistake.

[inesse]

[The boy rolls his shoulders. It's hard to say if it's a shrug, or if he's just trying to look cool.]

I call it two men and a pony and ted dansons pitstained ghost. You have to look for the ghost, though. Shit is hidden in there like vegetables in some kid's casserole dinner.

[inesse]

Haha, really? Oh my god -- [The movement of the can in the corner of his vision gets his attention, and he turns just in time to sort of... send it spiraling back in her direction with the inside of his foot.] How do you not know what the fuck fandango is?

Anyway, here's the thing about Fatty McDonut and the Peanut Gallery... you can't whale the shit out of anyone if you can't catch 'em. This is le mural sex [Six; and he's sure to put a noticeable amount of emphasis on the word.] for me, and those assholes are still scratching their greasy heads in confusion over it. By the time they figure it out, jack will be hitting the road and comin' back no more, no more, no more.

[And that is all there is to say on the matter.

The boy tosses the can of paint he's holding in the air once, catches it, and gives it a little clicky shake. She can't see it, but he's looking at her pretty closely behind his sunglasses.]

Also hey. Nice shades.

[inesse]

[That would be impressive, if he was paying attention. As it is, the boy got as far as taking note that she wasn't some cop trying to bust him before going right back into focusing on his artwork.

That is to say, until she walks into him, and he loses his footing. While he catches himself easily enough, it's still not quick enough to keep him from getting half a face full of creamsicle dream.]

Whoa! What?

[worlddominationbaby]

[ the stranger delivers a hefty frysquint in russel's direction. they do leave, though, wondering to themselves the mysteries of today's youth.

dang, it's real quiet on the Madeline front. why is that? ]

Kougyoku Ren / "Ruby" Wang | Magi : The Labyrinth of Magic | The Mall

[crownjewel]

Option A.

[It's a normal day at the mall, where Ruby spends more time than her wallet would like her to. Going through the racks at one of the higher-end clothing stores, she thinks she's finally found that perfect shirt, only for her face to completely drop as she checks the sizing tags.]

Excuse me!

[She tries sounding imperious, but it comes off more like a childish whine. Her nervousness is given away but the slight shake in her voice and hands as she attempts to wave down a sales person.]

There's nothing here in a size 5...

[She looks like she might be on the verge of bursting into tears over it.]

Option B.

[Sitting at the food court, Ruby is messing around on her cell phone while eating her lunch. She's not browsing tumblr or facebook, however, and is instead wrapped up in some kind of casual game.

Actually, you might get a notification that user "Fl0w3r0fTh3R3dS3a" just killed one of your monsters. Did she seriously just best you in that iOS monster card game everyone stopped playing over a month ago? Judging by the way she's jumped out of her chair in joy, it certainly looks that way.]

Yes! I finally hit level 10!

[crownjewel]

[This girl is a loser in every universe. She's just unlucky enough not to have princess status in this one to make up for it.]

It's okay! I wouldn't want you to go out of your way for something that silly. Ha ha ha.

[She waves a hand, laughing, but just a little put out. She was kind of hoping for a picture, actually, but that's even dumber, isn't it?]

You must get that kind of thing all the time, so I wouldn't want to make you repeat yourself, anyway.