it's time once again for a...test drive meme!

[herotypical]

the luceti test drive meme

Reserves have just opened and apps are right around the corner. But are you still on the fence about any of your would-be characters? Well -- here is your chance to take them out for a spin!

▣ TAG IN or reply to others with characters you would like to test drive for Luceti.
▣ ONLY add top-level comments for characters who are not yet in the game. You're free to reply to others with Luceti characters (because that's half the fun) but remember that the whole point of this meme is for potential characters.
▣ PLEASE do not post duplicates of characters already in Luceti.
▣ GO AHEAD and give us a brief description of your character in the top-level comment, along with one or two possible ways to run into your test-driven character around town.
▣ YOU MAY use these threads for your first person samples on your app -- just make sure that you link threads of a goodly length (i.e., threads with at least ten comments from your character).

Need a little help getting started? Remember, you needn't post here as though your character is still brand-spankin' new. It'll probably be more fun for all involved if this isn't a simple dress rehearsal for showing up. Here are a few scenario ideas:

o1. The grocery store is out of food. What do you do?
o2. Wing injury! Call for help or stagger your way to one of our fine clinics.
o3. It's a busy evening at Good Spirits, one of Luceti's local bars. Do you dare try the drink specials?
o4. Have a talent for playing music? Try Cloud Nine's open mic night!
o5. Beach party? Snow party? Leaf-raking party? Gardening party? YOU DECIDE.

Okay. So my examples are pretty non-exciting. But they're really just suggestions. I'm POSITIVE you kids can come up with more creative things.

Above all? HAVE FUN. Oh. And don't forget to RESERVE your characters.

Comments

[handing]

[Most faces, but not all: Pepper and Natasha have a bit of history, although most of that had come about while the agent had been masquerading as Natalie Rushman from Legal. Things have changed in the years since then, however, and Natasha is one of the ones who saved Manhattan with the newly formed Avengers. That's more than enough reason for Pepper to offer a genuine smile to the other woman.]

Good evening, Agent Romanov. Would you like some company?

[widows_kiss]

Ms. Potts.

[It's said with a smile, green eyes glinting with faint amusement. She'd seen the woman approach, had tensed for the briefest of moments, but Pepper was smiling and relaxed, so she takes that as a good sign. Sometimes she's not sure what to expect when dealing with Pepper, since their start was somewhat unusual. Not to mention layered in intrigues, cover stories, and aliases. Most people didn't take being lied to so magnanimously.

Then again, most people would have never survived working for Tony Stark as long as Pepper Potts had, either. Even in her short time undercover, Natasha had come to respect and admire the other woman.

Natasha waves a hand to the empty stool beside her in invitation.] I'd love some, actually.

[handing]

[Pepper's experience does give her something of an unusual perspective. Yes, Natasha had lied about her identity, and at one point Pepper blamed "Natalie" for Tony's bad choices. But all of it had been part of a greater plan, an assessment by SHIELD of Iron Man and Tony Stark--and more importantly, she had helped save Tony's life, and hers.

And that had been before the Avengers.

She settles into the stool Natasha indicates, and orders a drink for herself: scotch on the rocks. Tony's preference, usually, but Pepper wants something other than vodka tonight.]

How are you settling in so far?

[widows_kiss]

[She waits until Pepper is settled and comfortable, taking another sip of her own drink while the woman orders something for herself. Pepper's question is received with a faint incline of her head as she considers her answer before giving it.]

Well enough. Everything is just different enough to be strange. And I hate to say it, but I miss technology. [The confession is accompanied by a laugh as she tucks a curl behind one ear.] I can't imagine how Tony adjusted. Still, all things considered, it could be much worse.

[She pauses again, glancing around, as if making sure she's not being overheard. Perhaps she's overly paranoid, but she's in unfamiliar territory and that was always a very good reason to take extra care.] Perhaps I shouldn't say things like that. Clint would accuse me of tying to jinx things.

[handing]

You and me both. [Pepper finds the signs of her complacency amazing sometimes; even little things, like getting up to adjust the thermostat, remind her that back home she usually was in a building with an AI for that.

The mention of Tony gets a laugh, and Pepper shakes her head.] Well, hiring a fan to do his housework helped. [Her drink arrives, and Pepper nods her thanks to the bartender. She pauses long enough to take a sip, watching as Natasha looks around them. Old habits dying hard, probably.]

Unfortunately, there's not a lot we can do to prevent the worse. I'm sure you read the guide?

[widows_kiss]

[Natasha blinks a moment, then makes a quiet sound of amused derision.] Of course it did. What a terrifying thought. Whoever they are, they have my sympathy. Or perhaps pity.

[Or maybe both. But then again, she'd done the same for a while. She hopes he's easier to please when he's not busy dying and acting out accordingly.

Natasha dips her head faintly in an affirmative at the question.] I did. I think I got most of the gist of it. It's all sounding pretty far-fetched still, although it was very informative and thorough, at least. [She glances sideways at Pepper, her expression curious.] Have you been here long?

[handing]

You know, I don't think he needs it--despite being stuck with Tony's laundry. [And Pepper means what she says. Billy's an impressive kid, which Natasha will likely see for herself soon, considering that he's not just an Iron Man fan.

And for the record, yes. Tony is much easier to get along with these days.]

Oh, trust me; I thought exactly the same thing. [Pepper takes a long sip of her drink, very clearly remembering her first days here. Even her first hours, most of which she spent thinking this all was some sort of dream. It's hard not to think that still, sometimes.] I would say long enough, but Tony had a year on me before I even arrived in July, so it doesn't really seem fair.

[widows_kiss]

No? [She smiles, looking amused and finding herself curious in spite of herself] Hopefully it's not the creepy stalker sort of fan?

[Natasha absorbs the information given here with a thoughtful look, making note of spans of time, looking surprised by it.] Wait. Tony's been here for a whole year?

[handing]

Oh, not at all. Or at least, if he is, he's subtle about it. [Pepper grins, the last part at least being a joke.] His name's Billy, and you probably shouldn't be surprised if he recognizes you too. He's a fan of superheroes in general.

[And yes, Natasha, that does include you.

Pepper's smile tightens when the other woman asks for clarification; it's not something Pepper is pleased about.] The way time works between here and our world is different. Tony was here for ten months, but no time passed for him at home. Then he was home for two years, and came back here only to find a week had gone by in Luceti.

It doesn't make any sense.

[widows_kiss]

[She arches an eyebrow at this, over the fact that she'd be recognized at all, but that's been a faintly disconcerting consequence of saving the city. She hopes it dies down soon.] He knows who I am?

[Natasha frowns outright as Pepper's smile tightens and she explains. That concept was troubling. So was the fact that Tony had been brought here twice. Was there a reason for that? And how had he gotten away the first time? Although if he was still here, she was guessing that avenue was no longer an option. If it had even been voluntary or on purpose in the first place.]

No, that doesn't really. What about his memories of home? Did he... miss anything? He remembers everything you and I do? [She pauses again, adjusting her thinking.] I suppose I should ask if you and I remember the same things, in that case.

[handing]

[Pepper nods, although the question has her curious.] Has anyone told you about the alternate universes yet? [Silently Pepper hoped so. She doesn't enjoy being the one to share that particular news.]

No, he's not missing any time at all. Apparently when people leave Luceti, they're sent back to the same exact point they were drawn from. [With no memories of ever having been gone, meaning there's nothing that can be done at home to stop this place.]

It's a pretty common question. When I was home last, it hadn't been that long since the invasion in Manhattan. We were working on rebuilding Stark Tower. [Although with a different purpose, but Pepper doesn't want to spoil that surprise--despite knowing Natasha won't remember it anyway.]

[widows_kiss]

[Natasha nods.] I bumped into Steve. He mentioned it. [She hesitated for the briefest moments and takes a casual sip of her drink.] He also mentioned Howard Stark is here.

[She digests this information with a frown, lips pursed in displeasure.] And no memory of what happened, I'm sure. Wonderful.

So about the same time then. [That's good to know. It had been only two days since the attack for her. She and Clint had gone to ground until Fury called them back in or needed them for something. Especially with the WSC on a witch hunt for someone to blame, Clint had to lay especially low and she was better at that than he was. She hoped Pepper's words were true, because she didn't want to imagine what would happen if Clint found her gone.]</small]

[handing]

[Pepper tenses at the mention of Howard; before, it's been easy enough to discuss. Bring it up, and ask people to keep the truth of his connection to Tony unsaid. Now, however? Things have changed.]

Howard is here, yes. And he knows he's Tony's father, although Tony hasn't been born yet, in Howard's time.

[Then it's Pepper's turn to take a drink. She sets the glass back down again with a nod, confirming Natasha's suspicion about the lack of memory.]

That makes things easier. [Pepper has had her fill of dealing with the differences in timelines and universes, honestly. That Natasha is from around the same time is something of a relief.]