Friday DE: Fast forward or Flashback? A test drive meme

[bjornwilde]

With apologies to Missy, in case she had plans for posting this on Saturday, it was suggested we do a character test drive today since folks may be busy with political unrest on Saturday and since the first is approaching quickly, I thought it made perfect sense. And in the spirit of inclusivity, I’m both putting it up early and opening it up to past pups you might be nostalgic for, since not everyone may have a new voice to try out. 

Rules are simple. For new pups, post as if this were they're first entrance to Milliways and hopefully someone will tag in. If you’re bringing in an older voice, play it as you’d like. All threads are unofficial, so the gloves are off. 

Have fun!

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[exiled_heir_of_the_eighth]

It's about nine in the morning, just after the breakfast rush, when a man walks through the door. He's African-American, big - the sleeveless duster he wears exposes arms corded with muscle - and half of his face is covered by a breathing mask. Dreadlocks fall around his head. Close enough, you can smell ash, and cordite.

When he speaks, it's with a deep, rumbling voice, tinged with electronic distortion.

"This... Not meant to be here."

[mm_nocarename]

As far as Kae is concerned, you're not meant to be here you wall of muscles. This is supposed to be the way to where her doujinshi circle was meeting, not the bodybuilding club.

"Ow."

That said, she doesn't know where she is for a very simple reason.
Her glasses came off in the impact.

[exiled_heir_of_the_eighth]

Ulysses turns round, sees the woman stagger back more than he feels the impact. Time to see why his road brought him to this place.

He bends down, picks up the glasses, and holds them out.

"Yours?"

[mm_nocarename]

Thank you blurry wall of - oh my.

That's a whole lot of probably a gang member or something. Maybe or something since she's not seeing any tattoos?

On the other hand Kae is, let's be honest, not going to intimidate anyone physically. She has purple hair, green eyes if you look closely, stands all or 160cm, and has the build of someone who's ideal form of exercise is turning pages or changing streaming sites while snacking.

"Yes. Thank you?" she manages once she can see things again.
Then, "...I think I'm lost."

[exiled_heir_of_the_eighth]

Not a gang member. Never that low. And tattoos were never needed, not when there were braids.

This woman - this girl, he realises, isn't normal. Hair that must be dyed by chemicals, too thin and light to make it through the hardships of the East, or have come from the Western cities.

"Of course. Seeing the path ahead, something you can't do without." A pause. "No. You're not lost. You don't know where you are. There's a difference, subtle but there."

[mm_nocarename]

Girl yes, but Kae's eyebrows match her hair. Her eyelashes match. Possibly people are different where she's from.

"That sounds like a difference that doesn't make much of a difference," she grumbles, "What does lost mean if it doesn't mean that I don't know where I am?"

It's simple Japanese!

[exiled_heir_of_the_eighth]

He shakes his head slowly, displeased at her answer. Or perhaps by the ignorance behind it.

"No. Being lost, you have nowhere to go, no idea of a destination, no journey ahead. Yet to find out what this place is - so there's a journey."

It's not simple, in any language. But, true, whether in English, Latin, or tribal dialect.

[mech_girl]

The door opens to reveal a tall, powerfully built woman in power armor whose laughter cuts off when she sees where she is.

"This is not my shop," she says in a lilting Swedish accent.

[exiled_heir_of_the_eighth]

When the door opens, Ulysses is at the bar, arms crossed, looking around with an explorer's interest. He turns, sees the woman, and the interest shifts.

Powered armour. Rare, outside the Brotherhood, or NCR special forces. Looks new to him. He's intrigued.

"No. Not sure what it is, yet. This place - it's strange, like nothing I've seen before."

[mech_girl]

She looks the man over, in a manner that is polite somehow. He doesn’t seem like any member of Overwatch she’s aware. If anything, he seems like someone if Talon. Still, she’s not one to judge quickly.

“I would venture to say the same, despite seeing many strange things myself. I am Brigitte. How may I call you, who seems to be sharing my strange adventure?”

[exiled_heir_of_the_eighth]

He doesn't mind the looking. The assessment. He did the same, after all.

"Ulysses. This road, this adventure... strange, yes, but there have been stranger."

He pauses, thinking. "Your accent. Not American - that much is clear. Further away, then. Where do you come from? Where does your road start, Brigette?"

[mech_girl]

"Sweden, though I could just as easily say my road started in Germany for that is where I began the path to becoming a squire."

"And of yourself? Are you American then?"

[exiled_heir_of_the_eighth]

He doesn't recognise either place. On no road he's ever walked. But, this far from normal, that means nothing.

"Not sure. Land I come from - was America, once. Before man tore its flag down. Believe I am, though."

[god_of_talking_crap]

A moment ago, Anders was on the phone with his brother Axl to talk about Axl's upcoming 21st. He'd been really looking forward to barging in on his brother Ty's house without invitation because...well, it was always fun to watch Ty sputter and freeze things by accident.

When he opens Ty's door, though, he sees something unusual on the other side. "Hey, Axl?" he says in a distinct Kiwi accent. "Did Ty turn his front room into a bar without telling us?" A pause. "Yeah, I'm gonna have to call you back, little brother."

Anders Johnson, PR mastermind and mortal incarnation of Bragi, Norse god of poetry, steps into the bar looking like he's just discovered something brilliant.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric looks up, eyes flashing gold for a moment as he sees double. He comes over to the bar, a little smile on his lips. "Welcome."

[god_of_talking_crap]

"Thanks," Anders says, throwing a smile that is charming in a smarmy sort of way. "I like what you've done with the place. Really..." he shivers slightly, smirking, "warms it up nicely."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric can't help but chuckle. "Oh, this is not my doing. The bar is it's own magic. Like you, I'm a guest of this place." He gestures to the bar. "A drink?"

[god_of_talking_crap]

"I never say no to a drink." His tone hints that this is likely the literal truth. "What's the house specialty?"

He slides onto a barstool and turns to look over the space. It's definitely an improvement over Ty's place.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric chuckles. He's always liked Bragi.

He offers Anders a playful little smile. "Your heart's desire." He gives the words a little edge of a purr. "Or anything you can think to ask for. But the most unique of its gifts is Atlantean. But it is not safe for the mortal among us."

[tenthofthatname]

The door opens and into the bar strides Caspian, Tenth of that Name, newly crowned King of Narnia, Lord of Cair Paravel, Emperor of the Lone Islands, and young man feeling entirely too small for the weight of his titles.

When the door closes behind him, he lets out a long-held breath of relief, glad to be away from the court and his responsibilities. He looks up a moment later and sucks that breath back in.

"By the Lion, what sorcery is this?"

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric is at the bar, a book open and fingers tapping a rhythm of the music playing through his headphones. His rich embroidered tunic wouldn't look out of place in Calormen but he has pale complexion and fair hair that looks more Narnian (or English).

He smiles to the new comer, taking his earbuds out. "Welcome."

[tenthofthatname]

It is perhaps fortunate that the first person to greet Caspian is someone who looks familiar. Even if he does have something strange hanging from his ears.

"Thank you," he says, looking around in clear confusion. "What manner of place is this?"

He also has the advantage of knowing there are other worlds and that it is possible to travel between them.

[thewidewideworld]

"A tavern, a haven and a place of magic." Sinric answer with a soft smile. "It is called Milliways." He gestures to the bar. "Are you thirsty?"

[tenthofthatname]

Caspian smiles slowly. "Another world," he says. "Tell me, is this tavern in...Earth?"

He supposes there may be other worlds than Narnia and Earth, but Aslan seems to send people between those two most often.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric cocks his head, curious about the phrasing. "It is not on Earth. It is it's little world, but many of us who come here are from Earth. I take it you are not?"