the road's got me hypnotized

[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

[aryaunderfoot]

It's just a stupid building. There are a lot more complicated buildings back home.

[Not that she's seen Dragonstone, but she's heard about it. A dragon-shaped castle is way more complicated than some dumb plain building.]

[misterdespair]

[He sighed, noting yet another child that he needed to prepare for life.]

There are many complicated things in every world. Cars. Elevators. Taxes. The IRS. Romance. Dating Websites. Ebay. These are just everyday facts that we cannot ever hope to understand, but we must interact with no less.

It's all complicated. And all hopeless.

[aryaunderfoot]

[The only thing she understood out of all that was "romance." And she wrinkles up her nose at it while Nymeria gives a low whine and flops down to sit on her haunches.]

You don't have to interact with it. [The man who fears losing has already lost. This guy obviously already lost.] You don't need any of that.

[misterdespair]

You're wrong!

[He regarded her with a manic intensity behind those glasses.]

The only two things that are certain in life are taxes and death, and even your very death has taxes and fees attached to it. How do you think your loved ones will pay for the ceremonies at your funeral?

The rest of it is necessary for paying these taxes or coping with them. Clearly, they cannot be ignored.

[aryaunderfoot]

[Nymeria bares her fangs and growls low in her throat at the "you're wrong!". Arya has to reach a hand over to curl in the direwolf's fur to steady her, although it's honestly to steady them both. Arya's very quickly starting to get annoyed.]

I don't need anyone to pay for anything for me! [Not that she has anyone to pay any fees anyway.] Anyway, all men must die. There's no use in being afraid of it.

[misterdespair]

Who said anything about fear?

[He had stared his own death in the face multiple times, whether it was by noose or by train or zashiki warashi. The wolf got his attention-- but he didn't flinch.

None of this was real anyway, and a dream couldn't kill him.]

It's about acceptance of the hardships of life, which you are already showing great promise in.

What is your name?

[aryaunderfoot]

[She eyes him for a moment, suspicious. Sure, there's probably nothing to worry about when he seems to have already defeated himself, but that's also exactly the sort of person who has nothing to lose. And old habit kicks in as her suspicion boils up.]

Cat. My name is Cat. [Without a single flicker of anything to betray the lie. Unless you count Nymeria's ears pinning back further.] And what do you care if I accept the hardships of life?

[misterdespair]

[Fortunately or unfortunately, Nozomu already suspected everyone of lying. At this point, it was just easier to accept the lies and move on.]

Ah. Cat-san. Nozomu Itoshiki. [He offered a short bow.] It's an honor to meet you.

I'm a teacher, you understand. I worry about how young people will adapt to the pain and despair of this world. It's better to prepare them early, so there's no surprises.

[aryaunderfoot]

[Arya frowns a bit.]

I already learned all that on my own. And this world isn't so bad. There are much worse places.

[Like King's Landing. Or Harrenhal.]

[misterdespair]

Are there really?

[He tilted his head, in thought, as if he misunderstood her words.]

[aryaunderfoot]

[Blank look. Even Nymeria is tilting her head at him.]

There aren't a bunch of stupid drunken bravos picking fights in the streets here. And I haven't seen a single whorehouse, either.

[Or any Gold Cloaks, or any of the Mountain's men, and she hasn't had to pass by any trees littered with hanging corpses lately, either. Not too shabby, if you ask her.]

[misterdespair]

[An even blanker look, if that was possible.]

...

I thought whorehouses were outlawed in the 1950s.

[aryaunderfoot]

[For a moment, Arya's look goes even blanker.

And then she gives a soft "pff" because really how do you not laugh at that.]

Outlawed? Where? Other than here.

[Because that's the only way she could see this place being so clean, aside from being run by Baelor the Blessed.]

1/2

[misterdespair]

Back...home.

2/2

[misterdespair]

Are you telling me that a child like you has been exposed to the underground sex industry that runs rampant and keeps people hiding in their rooms looking at previews of something that they're too scared to seek out by themselves?

[aryaunderfoot]

[Arya just nods, calm as still water.]

I used to sell fish to them. They need to eat just like everyone else.

1/2

[misterdespair]

[She earned another blank look.]

2/2

[misterdespair]

[This girl, she was--]

You're far more precocious than I thought you were!!

[aryaunderfoot]

[Yeah, she's taking that the wrong way.] All I did was sell them fish.

[It's not like she worked there.]

1/2

[misterdespair]

Exactly!

You've proven that you're more mature and balanced than a girl your age normally should be, Cat-san. You've accepted the shadows of life and you've used them to your benefit, and that is a skill that many never come to understand in their lifetime. They always look for the silver linings in every cloud, when they'll only be blinded if they look up at the sky for too long.

Cat-san, I--

[misterdespair]

--No.

Perhaps we shouldn't be teacher and student. Perhaps we should work together to show the residents of this little village the truth of this world.

[aryaunderfoot]

[She bites her lip thoughtfully. In a way, he makes a good point. Trying to make sure people are prepared for the worst is a good part of understanding the words "winter is coming." But at the same time...]

But a lot of people just don't listen. And besides, this world isn't as bad as the one I come from.

[Beat. Small frown.] It's not as bad as yours, either. Nobody is collecting taxes here.

[misterdespair]

[Yet another blank look.]

...Huh. I guess you're right.

But--that doesn't make the aliens toying with our bodies and minds any better. We should keep talking even if the people don't listen.

One day they will.

[aryaunderfoot]

No they won't. They'll only hear what they want to hear.

[People make things up and believe what they want. After all, how many people thought Robb transformed into Grey Wind?]

...Until it's too late, anyway.

[misterdespair]

It's already too late. They chose to ignore all of the warnings, and now they're wondering why their families and careers are falling apart.