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]

[The question makes Arya pause, biting her lip thoughtfully. How long has it been? It feels like a few lifetimes have passed since King's Landing. And in a way, they have.]

Only a few months, when I had a teacher. But I've been practicing on my own ever since then.

[And some of that practicing has been less practice and more actual fighting. Stick them with the pointy end.]

[koiwamizuiro]

Oh.

[For the amount of time spent learning from a teacher, what the girl was accomplishing was certainly impressive, and Ai could tell even if she didn't have much knowledge when it came to fencing.]

Were you separated from your teacher when you came here?

[Practicing on her own now, as good as she was, couldn't have been more effective than doing so with a partner. But, just like the rest of the people here, Ai doubted there was much the girl could do about it.]

[aryaunderfoot]

[Arya shakes her head. She might miss Syrio terribly, but she won't let her weakness show. Calm as still water. Completely straight-faced, eyes a little blank and dull, she goes on.]

A long time before that. But he might turn up here. [She guesses. Apparently people can turn up here even after they die. It's something to look for, at least... not that she's all that optimistic.] Until then, I'll just keep practicing.

[koiwamizuiro]

[Even with her awareness and cognizance, Ai couldn't pick up on the brief turmoil in the other girl when she answered her question. Not enough that she could be certain there was something she was hiding, anyway.]

Why do you practice?

[She could pick up on the determination in her, however, and she couldn't help but wonder where it stemmed from.]

[aryaunderfoot]

[Valar morghulis. Because she has a list of people who need to die and haven't yet. Because she has a list of people she needs to avenge. Because there is so much wrong with the world and she can't rely on always having someone there to defend her.

Nymeria picks her head up a little higher and gives a low whine. Arya glances back at her direwolf, then shrugs and turns back to Ai.]

The roads are dangerous back home, and it's not safe here, either. You've got to be ready.

[koiwamizuiro]

[She couldn't imagine what life was like from wherever this girl came from - her response made Ai all the more curious, and at the same time even frightened to learn more.

However, people like her could get by in Luceti without any combat experience just the same, even with the dangers. Thankfully, she hadn't had to practice anything like swordmanship to defend herself.]

Have you had to... fight with anyone before? Back home?

[aryaunderfoot]

[Arya nods, looking completely nonplussed with this fact. She's had to kill before back home. Fighting is practically nothing.]

Lots of times. There was a war going on back home. I think just about everyone had to fight someone at some point.

[Here, have a curious look, Ai. Is this girl really so innocent?]

Why? Haven't you ever had to fight someone?

[koiwamizuiro]

[Ai shook her head at the girl's question, her eyes wide, showing surprise at the thought of her fighting people in her world - taking part in an actual war.]

There was no war from where I come from.

[And she couldn't be more thankful for that.]

I was just... a simple high school student back home.

[She said that with palpable relief in her voice, her eyes momentarily looking away from Arya's.]

[aryaunderfoot]

[Aaand you've lost her.]

"High school"? Were you training to be a septa?

[It sounds like something to do with the gods.]

[koiwamizuiro]

[Confusion momentarily struck Ai herself. She had to remember, once again, that not all things she considered normal were such for some people from other worlds. Arya's world and hers looked like they were more different from one another than she originally thought.]

A school is... Well, it is where adults teach children about different subjects in life - such as literature, geography, math... And a high school is largely the same, except for people who grow to be around my age. I was just starting my last year when I came here.

[Not the best explanation she could provide, but she hasn't really had to explain it before. A soft smile began to form on her lips as she rubbed the back of her neck.]

I do not know what septa is, but I doubt it was what I meant.

[aryaunderfoot]

[Okay, so it's more like Old Town, then. Arya turns that over in her head a few times. This girl's world trains just about everyone to be maesters? That seems like overkill...]

Back home, we mainly just get our lessons from the maesters. At least, you do if you're highborn. [There's some grudging admission of her rank in her tone. Somehow she can just hear Gendry and his stupid "m'lady"s.]

Don't they train you for a craft, where you come from?

[koiwamizuiro]

[The term highborn did not ring a bell with Ai, either. It seemed like schooling was a privilege offered only to a certain group of people.]

And what about those who are not highborn? They just... remain uneducated?

[A craft? Well, if there was one thing that could apply as one...]

I took swimming classes in high school, and I was a captain of a swimming team.

[A hint of a nostalgic smile creeps up on Ai's face.]

[aryaunderfoot]

They learn trades. Like baking or smithing.

[Hot Pie and Gendry might have been stupid boys, but it wasn't due to any lack of maester influence. Hot Pie was just a coward and Gendry was bullheaded.

Arya bites a lip thoughtfully as she considers this. Swimming. What do you need to train extensively in swimming for? Especially when you're a girl.]

Were you going to work on a ship?

[koiwamizuiro]

Trades...

[Ai nodded slightly upon hearing that, some more of her curiosity sated as she processed it, which also led to more questions popping up in her mind.

What Arya asked took Ai aback, however, the girl failing to see the connection between working on a ship and going to swimming practice in school.]

A-a ship? No.

[She shook her head.]

I had not yet decided what I wanted to pursue back home. I still had one more year of high school left.

[Her face briefly bore a thoughtful expression.]

[aryaunderfoot]

[Arya is feeling completely lost by now. What else would you need to know how to swim for? Although it is pretty interesting that apparently women have a lot more job choices than just mother, silent sister, or septa. Or, well. Any number of less savory career paths.]

You have that long to decide, where you came from?

[And here she was already being bartered off for marriage.]

[koiwamizuiro]

Yes. I think it helps us make sure what it is that we really want to do.

[Ai nodded affirmatively to the question as she replied.]

I do not know what the future holds for me if I get back home, but... I took swimming classes because it is something I really enjoy. Being in the water relaxes me a lot, and gives me a sense of mobility. I like how lighter it makes me feel, too.

[She smiled happily during the explanation she offered.]

It is why I keep doing it here whenever I can. On top of that, it keeps me in shape.

[If she were to have to rush into a decision now, what she'd pursue in her life would probably be related to that passion and determination to be a good enough swimmer.]

[aryaunderfoot]

[That Arya can perfectly understand. A very faint smile tugs at the corners of her lips.]

That's how I feel about nee-- [Arya, not everyone knows "needlework" means "swordsmanship" with you. This girl seems innocent enough, but you shouldn't open up with everything.] Practicing with my sword, I mean.

But doesn't anyone try to stop you?

[Surely there's a father or a mother or a sister complaining that it isn't ladylike to enjoy sports.]