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

[amajin]

What, like rain boots?

[He had tried to retrieve his shirt out of the trash but someone, probably Yoko, had thrown food on it. She was devilishly clever, that one.]

You wanna get some lunch first, tell me how practice is going, tennis champ?

[sucrosity]

No, not rain boots, Doc Martens!

[She already has three pairs. Which is nowhere near enough.]

Sure! You can tell me about whatever your robots are getting up to. Have they started planning a rebellion yet?

[metalbent]

Well, crap. Sorry.

[ ...Not that she'd run into him, but - well, that sucked. ]

Did you need to call someone or something? Or like, is there data on there?

[eras]

[ The Museum of History, you say? Well, Aria Megido can often be found there - though not as a worker, but rather as an avid history fan and visitor. No, it's not a particularly cool thing to be a fanatic about - not when you're in high school, anyway. Aria's sixteen, like Sango, and attends Locke High. So perhaps they've seen one another around, or perhaps they're better acquainted than that. We just don't know.

She at least knows the girl well enough from her frequenting the Museum, though, and Aria will grin as she steps up to the desk. ]

Hey! Is the new exhibit in yet?

[eras]

I don't mind if you bring it in to just the front, really - the space in front of the counter isn't too bad, at least.

[ By which she means there's a clearish area up there with a little sitting area, which might fit the bike. It might also make things a bit cramped, but at least it wouldn't be in too much danger of knocking anything over... ]

Or yeah, propping it up out front. I know it's not much, but...

I can also grab you tea, if you want.

[pitch_slap]

She's got her umbrella up already, bright red and cheerful against the gathering clouds, but is aware enough to side-step the large cart rumbling toward her, even giving the woman pushing it a nod, but she doesn't really need flowers right now.

And then...

The Echo isn't much, just a photograph of a woman, the one she just walked past (like a memorial photo) and the memory of a voice saying something about "my wife" and "your sister" which--what the hell, shes doesn't have any siblings-- and Lucy stops dead in her tracks.

The rain splashing on her face wakes her back up to herself enough to turn abruptly and go chasing back after the woman, thinking quick for any excuse, any at all, to talk to her. Digging in a pocket, she comes up with about $3.57 which, well, it will have to do. "Excuse me, miss?"

[stavros]

My name is Tessa! Tessa Hart. I must again deeply apologize for crashing into the shelf you were perusing.

[dead_wife]

The rumble of the cart wasn't enough to drown out Lucy's request entirely. The wheels slowed to a stop, as did the steps of the woman pushing the cart, and she turned to regard the young lady that had called for her attention.

"Yes? May I help you?"

Lilly couldn't help but remark to herself on just how much this person looked like her. There were differences to be sure (Lucy was taller), but it was a strange sort of swooping feeling nonetheless.

Ah, well, it was probably nothing of concern. It seemed all this girl wanted to do was purchase some flowers, and Lilly had enough left to whip up a quick bouquet if necessary.

Hope you don't mind another potential applicant? ^^

[warriorsaint]

All right, that's enough.

[This is not your lucky day, Mr. Franklin, as Officer Sheng happens to be patrolling this particular parking lot, and she is about the last person you want to catch you red-handed. Tall, imposing and severe, she strides across the lot with the cool purpose of someone who knows that she can chase down her target if he tries to bolt. She catches him in the beam of her flashlight and scowls at the scene.]

Something tells me that this isn't your car.

YEP though his parents are stage actors, also sob I'm so rusty

[rararazputin]

[DEEP SIGH]

Yeeeeep...

[WAIT SUDDENLY HE IS STARING AT YOU wait... HE LOVES THAT SHOW!??? AND for a split second he's about to be like HOT DAMN YOU ARE THE GUY FROM THE SHOW but then he remembers that

actually

doing that is obnoxious and even if Raz isn't famous and his parents aren't he knows the whole "Yeah my parents are actors" thing only for him it's more like "They do local theater and one of them teaches circus performance wow no acrobatics actually sucks a lot leave me alone"]

[moorecowbell]

So what!? That gets no sympathy from me, just because it was an accident. That just means you're unforgivably clumsy.

[WOW IT IS A MYSTERY echoes suck man]

merlin/iwan evans | merlin

[busy]

[it's been a long day - most days are. but at least he has a little time to kill in-between one crappy part-time job and the next. iwan stretches his legs out, rests his head back against the bench, and lets his lashes flutter closed.

he's on the verge of drifting off to sleep and dreams, which would undoubtedly make him late for work (again). so mother nature decides to help him out. he feels the first raindrop against his cheek, the next one splashing in the center of his forehead. hello iwan, you're now a unicorn.

he opens his eyes to stare up at the steadily darkening clouds that seem to be gathering right above him.]

You've got to be kidding me.

[somedaytogether]

Clumsy I might be, but considering no harm was done, you're really blowing this out of proportion. And being rude about it, which doesn't make you any more charming.

[How'd you like that sass, blonde teenage girl?]

don't mind at all!

[knightmaking]

[ Oops.

That was... to be entirely expected, to be quite honest! He knew he should have stuck to residential streets! ]

Aha, ah. [ He twists around a bit so he can look at her from over his shoulder. Just put the biggest smile ever on and maybe this will turn out alright! ] Good evening, Officer! Oh, no, no, it is! It's just a little broken right now, you see. I'm sure I'll have this all sorted out in no time!

[titanology]

I will. It should be a week or two, now.

[warriorsaint]

[Sheng Xiaoyun is unimpressed, which is saying little: she rarely is. Troublemakers who try to charm her tend only to wind up in deeper trouble. Face blank, she looks this particular troublemaker up and down. Harmless, she estimates, except for the obvious matter of property damage and theft.]

Do you have papers for it? Let's see them. [If he comes clean, she might even be inclined to make this easier for him.]

[edhwierfan]

[There's a curse from a few feet away as Aeron fumbles with his umbrella, looking shockingly pale and distressed in a way that has nothing to do with the burst of rain. The umbrella rolls to a stop just shy of Iwan's feet.]

Sorry.

[The apology comes out curt, and Aeron barely glances at Iwan when he bends down to retrieve his umbrella. The hand that adjusts his shoulder bag shakes badly.]

[taijiya]

[Anyone who interrupts her relative boredom manning the front desk at the museum her uncle is in charge of is a welcome distraction, and anyone who does it frequently is probably a pretty good friend. Sonja looks up from the computer (the thing is ancient and she's actually just playing Minesweeper), and grins brightly at Aria.]

The new Aztec relics, you mean?

[Sonja spares a glance back to her algebra-absorbed little brother, then looks back at Aria to share a conspiratorial look.]

Well, not for the general public. Uncle Garth isn't finished setting it up yet. But I've got keys. [Which she pulls from under the desk and jingles.]

[sponsorigami]

I was writing something, and I don't think it saved.

[ He gives a small sigh. ]

Maybe I should stick with paper and pencil...

ITS OK gently helps u be unrusty

[goodboybestshot]

[He feels eyes on him. The eyes of gawking preteens. He turns slightly to look down at Raz with a somewhat nervous expression. Did this kid recognize him.]

Um. Hello.

[un_muted]

Hey, no harm done. It could have been a lot worse.

[knightmaking]

Well, that would be a problem, you see...

[ He isn't going to let the considerable lack of actually being able to prove this is his car stop him from trying. He isn't about to stand up all the way, either, because heaven forbid he leave his tools out of easy reach!

So, he just keeps on awkwardly watching her, half-turned. This is going to get uncomfortable soon. ]

I'm actually a little locked out at the moment and those happen to be in the glove department.

[predestinarianism]

I mean, if you're sure.

[because she really doesn't want to leave it outside, so she's not going to protest too much.]

Tea would be great, thanks, if you're already making it. It should be over soon, these summer storms never last that long.

[stavros]

I suppose, and I offer my gratitude.

[un_muted]

It's no problem!

[Glancing down, Hyun-ae notices that there's still an assortment of dropped items and things knocked off shelves on the floor.}

... We should probably clean that up, though, huh?