Test Drive Meme #002

[khuimods]

KHU IODUAN; TEST DRIVE MEME #002

I. THE OPARA CORE - May I Borrow That? The engineers of the Opara Core facility are always on the lookout for new technology they can adapt into the ever-growing web that provides communications across the archipelago and beyond. Their staff are assembled represent a wide swath of the native races in Konryu whose skills are mechanically-inclined, and of Dreamfolk who've arrived and want to pitch in. Part of their standard operating procedure is to take an interest in tech coming in with the newly arrived Dreamfolk. An excitable female Muin, her bright shock of electrically pink hair and matching, jewel-like eyes alight with a madcap glee, is wheedling for whatever gadget you have on your person. "Please?" she asks for the third time, blinking at you hopefully. "I'll put it back exactly how it was when I'm done. I promise..." II. DREAMING BRIDGE - Grab Your Apron! The Aifaran government fully supports the Dreaming Bridge with both coin and supplies to take care of newcomer Dreamfolk, but the actually day-to-day operations are left to the site staff themselves. While they have a full complement of volunteers to manage the various aspects -- from cleaning and setting up rooms for new Dreamfolk, to helping new arrivals get used to the city by answering questions and organizing guided tours. "Hey you," an Arybar calls out, motioning with a soup ladle. He's about seven feet tall, with tiger-like striping on his skin. "Come back into the kitchen and help out, would you? We're short-staffed today, and since you're getting three meals a day for free, you can share the load." III. HEY MAN ARE YOU LOST - Herding Big Dumb Cats Odd jobs are always available for people who want to make some extra rhinn, and today's option for making some quick cash is to help some farmers clear a stubborn herd of curamija who are grazing on the new sprouts. While taller than most people, about the size of a draft horse, and possessing a massive rack of antlers, they look quite majestic... but they're prone to standing and staring dumbly at those who try to shoo them back off the cultivated land. Several of them have bunched up into a befuddled group, looking perplexed when none of them seem to know what direction to move in. Try to scare them? Coax them with treats? Declare them a lost cause? IV. KNOWLEDGE IS PRECIOUS - Accosted By Monks The Tariken monks are out in full force today, their orange and green robes making them easy to spot in a crowd, and there's a high chance you might be approached by one. Their sect values knowledge above everything else, so recording information from Dreamfolk, who are transient to Konryu, is something they see as imperative. Some of the questions are standard ("what's the name of your world? is it anything like Konryu? do have have any special position there?") but sometimes they move into stranger territory, like what's your favourite bath soap scent and how many times you wear your socks before washing them -- all of which are asked with the most studious attentiveness, just in case your answer holds the secret to the multiverse. V. FETCH A PRETTY PRICE - To Skim Or Not To Skim The salvage mission -- this time to a small island that looked initially like farmland, but was revealed to be entirely mechanical, has been a marked success! As the transports are being organized to return to the archipelago and the safety of the protective magical barrier, you've been left in charge of a sizable cache of recovered parts that are bound for the Opara Core technicians back in Aifaran. However, you're fairly certain that most, if not all of what's in this crate would fetch a high price at the Kel'ghau black market. Some of them are definitely pocket sized, and with the volume there, no one would notice a few pieces missing... right? VI. WILDCARD - Because You're Not The Boss Of Me Anything else that doesn't fit the above prompts is welcome, just keep it within the game setting please! Applications • Reservations • Taken List • Game Navigation

Comments

Ursula Callistis | Little Witch Academia | OTA

[ursulamajor]

1. May I Borrow That?

[Ursula tries to keep a grip on her hat as she walks down the street. Sea breezes in Aifaran aren't uncommon, but they do make it a pain to keep a wide-brimmed witch's hat on. She has a hand planted on the hat, pushing it down, and wind blows and threatens to knock it off.

She didn't mean to go to the Opara Core facility, but it was something where she could step into the lee of a building. She pulls her wand out, waving it; it lights up, a soft teal glow emanating forth from it. The sight of magic makes her smile -- makes her think of home -- but it's a complicated feeling, too. But, maybe, she could make her hat stick to her head.

She opens her mouth, and then: "May I borrow that?"

Ursula stares, before she backs up, nervously. She's new here; she isn't sure what to make of the Muin. She looks like a deer in headlights.]

Ah--eheheh, um, this is--it only works for me! S-Sorry! Um-- [She walks backward. And then falls over, flat on her behind.] Ow!

4. Grab Your Apron!

[Sometimes, Ursula Callistis is a doormat. She didn't always used to be that way... but things happened.

Which is why hearing that she gets three free meals a day tripped some guilty feeling in her brain, and she agreed to enter the kitchen and help out. Now, she is standing over a big pot of stew, and stirring with a big wooden spoon. She sniffs it once. Her nose wrinkles.

She... isn't sure. She sighs, before she looks around the kitchen.] Ah, so... I'm not really familiar with the spices on Konryu. Does... does anyone know if this smells right?

[It smells super sweet.]

4

[powertotearer]

[Eiji is the same way. He had to help, especially if the people here had been nice enough to give him free food.

When Ursula asks for help, he's only happy to help again.]

Oh, sure! In fact, the best way to test is...

[He's already sprinkled a little bit of the spice on a spoon so that he can stick his finger in and taste it. But it's only after his finger is covered in sweet-smelling spice that he remembers he's lost his sense of taste.

Now, he just holds the spoon out to her.]

The best way to test is to taste a little bit of it yourself. If it smells this sweet, it probably doesn't need sugar.

[ursulamajor]

[Ursula blinks when he comes over, sticks his finger in, and then... er... offers her a spoon. But--but sure, it makes sense.]

Ah, right! I guess I should decide for myself, hm?

[Maybe he doesn't quite trust the smell.

She takes a spoonful of it -- then promptly makes quite a face.] Aaah, yes, yes. That is much too sweet--it's--augh.

I need to learn what the spices taste like here...

[powertotearer]

[Yeah, it looked strange, but at least he managed to accomplish what he'd been trying, so he smiles and nods.]

Yeah, that's probably a good idea. Something like this might work in a dessert, maybe. But maybe not in the main course.

[ursulamajor]

I...

I think I have a lot more practicing to do.

[powertotearer]

It's okay. It takes a lot of work.

[ursulamajor]

It took you time to get used to it, I'm guessing?

[powertotearer]

A bit, just because I travel a lot. So I had to get used to the local spices and foods, along with how they were prepared. And that helped a lot when I got a part-time job at an international restaurant.

[ursulamajor]

Oh, that sounds fascinating! I'd never worked in a restaurant at all before today. I did travel quite a bit, though...

[powertotearer]

Really? Where to?

[ursulamajor]

Oh, let's see...

[Ursula has to think about it. As Shiny Chariot, she went all over the world. Sometimes, she loses track of the shows. Her brow furrows, as she considers; considers how much to say, too. But... no one here has ever heard of Shiny Chariot.

Which, come to think, is kind of depressing.]

I came from France, but I went to school in England. I've been all over the British Isles. I've also traveled to Japan, to America, to China, and over a lot of Europe. I was... well, a teacher.

[powertotearer]

Really? I have a friend who wanted to go to France!

[Maybe Eiji never heard of Shiny Chariot, but he's heard of all of these countries.]

I've been to China and a couple of countries in Europe, but not Britain yet. And I only went to America when I was really little. It's great that you've traveled that much to teach!

[ursulamajor]

[Ahahaha... ha... ha...

Awkward.

Ursula hesitates just a moment. She feels that spike of guilt, familiar but frustrating, at lying about who she is. About her identity. About misleading someone, into thinking she was a teacher all this time. Though... she traveled, some, as a teacher too.]

Most of it was on field trips. [She smiles.] And some of it was for pleasure. Vacations!

But it sounds like you've gotten around, too.

1

[eyeinfusion]

You're just making it easier for them, you know?

[He holds his hand out to her, offering a hand up.]

[At the same time, he turns to the Muin.] I left a laptop here! Can I get it back now?

[There, got rid of the technician. To Ursula, he continues—] Are you alright?

[ursulamajor]

[She blinks up at him, when he arrives. Ursula tilts her head for a moment, but then she takes his hand. She stands up, then, and she smiles for a moment.]

I'm quite all right. I suppose I just got flustered. This, ah...

[She looks up at him, and then she nods quickly to him.] This is important. A wand is quite important to spellcasting!

You brought a laptop when you arrived?

[eyeinfusion]

It doesn’t have to be important to not want to hand it over.

[His laptop, for instance...] Yeah. I was trying to check something when they saw it.

[He glances back to the building.] Let's go before she comes back out and catches us!

[ursulamajor]

Ah, yes... I imagine she might want to--

[Wait. She doesn't forget her wand, for a moment, but it clicks into place what Yuki is doing. Her eyes widen, just slightly.]

...Ah, you tricked her! Clever! Then, we should be off!

[eyeinfusion]

It was nothing! [He only tricked the Muin in the sense that he doesn't have to have his laptop back right now; he can always pick it up later!]

[He picks a direction and starts off.]

Hey, what kind of spellcasting can you do?

[ursulamajor]

Oh, I am familiar with many sorts! Much of it has useful, practical effects. I can repair objects or inspire a plant to grow.

Ah, but I can also make visual effects!

[And... fighting. But she doesn't go there to start.]

[eyeinfusion]

He~h? Sounds interesting! Anything that can make us go faster?

[He has no qualms about running, but he doesn't know how fast a Muin can run! And he doesn't feel like offering up the other bit of technology he has.]

[ursulamajor]

Why... yes! I do believe so.

[Ursula waves a hand. She focuses for a moment -- light gathers, grows, into her wand -- and then it flashes over them. Both of their feet light up with a faint aquamarine glow, and the next step has such power to it.

And speed. It's like they became a long distance runner, in a blink.]

It may not last terribly long! But it shouldn't need to.

[eyeinfusion]

Perfect!

[Have an excited boy laughing in exhilaration for as long as the speed lasts, Ursula.]

That was awesome! Do you do it often?

[ursulamajor]

[The speed lasts for a bit -- and then they slow to a stop. They're around a corner, then. Ursula laughs, herself, and then sighs as the last motes of light wash away from her feet.]

Mm, it depends. Typically, if I wish to get somewhere quickly, I would use a broom! But... I don't have one here.

It's quite fun, though, to be able to do that, is it not?

[eyeinfusion]

Definitely!

[He leans his hands on his knees to catch his breath.]

You use a broom to fly, yeah? Your magic sounds really fun!

[He straightens.] I'm Judai. Nice to meetcha!

[ursulamajor]

Oh, yes! It's a lot of fun. It's... well, it's one of its strong points.

[She smiles down at him, then straightens herself out too.]

Ursula Callistis. It's a pleasure, Judai.