Oh shit it's a hamster, GET IN THE CAR

[aintnoconvict]

The Test Drive Meme

Bad news! You've been kidnapped by aliens to a very randomly planned city inside a moon in a galaxy far far away. The aliens have done this for the lulz. And research. But mostly lulz. Lots of bad and strange things happen, as the collection of weirdo citizens will no doubt tell you. The good news is this is a quiet day with absolutely no horrors, so grab your tablet and get to exploring and/or trolling.

Aww yiss open-to-all-and-any test drive meme. Have some rules, such as they are:
1. Tag in with a character. Any character. Any medium. One you've already apped, one you're thinking of apping, one you'll never app, go wild.
2. That character has either a) just arrived in Taxon or b) has been stuck in the city for some time. Totally up to you.
3. You do not have to be a member of Taxon to participate. All are welcome to pop on in and be enabled!
4. App these fabulous people :D

Comments

[geniusforgotten]

"So it seems." He studied her a moment, trying to decide how much of this he should trust. He was more than slightly skeptical, but his curiosity and the potential for new discovery was beginning to win out. Life could be so dull, at times.

"They couldn't have a more efficient method?"

[sourcebloodaughter]

"And speaking of dead rising, before you get all wrapped up in everything, James is here, too."

Yes, she knows about him and what happens to him. She figured that one out a while ago.

"They're aliens that like to glitch the city into insanity. I don't think they understand the concept of efficiency."

[geniusforgotten]

She managed to distract him from his own concerns and plottings with that piece of information. "Where?"

"That's no excuse." He waved a hand dismissively. "And Helen? Is she here?"

/just rolls with something since yeah, it's just a test drive meme |D

[sourcebloodaughter]

"Somewhere around here, I bet. You could ask the tablets." She raised her wrist to show her bracelet, where her tablet was hanging off it, having been shrunk to cell phone charm size.

The question about her mother makes Ashley's expression tighten further. "Was. You just missed her."

[geniusforgotten]

He tapped the tablet he still carried thoughtfully, but made no attempt to actually ask it for anything. He was not going to talk to the thing, nor was he going to take the time to seek out the depths of its information while he had an audience. "Convenient."

"Meaning?" Now he wanted details.

[sourcebloodaughter]

"Everything here is," Ashley answered, watching him carefully. "Maybe I'll call him for you, if you ask nicely." Pro-tip, she probably wouldn't. She didn't quite trust Tesla enough for that.

She did shrug at his question. "People come and go here all the time. My guess is she's back at home and enjoying life again. She's always got something to do." She wouldn't even say she was jealous, even if it was partially true. Really, she was just angry that the aliens or whoever was responsible had seen fit to give her two months with her mother and then snatch Helen away from her again. It was far worse than if she'd never been there to begin with.

[geniusforgotten]

Nikola made a noncommittal noise at the suggestion. He had his suspicions that she might still be angry with him over the 'threatening to kill her mother' ordeal. He didn't think she was the type to forgive easily, especially where Helen was concerned.

"Keeping busy, yes. Enjoying life?" He didn't finish the thought, but his doubt wasn't hard to recognize. Not that he lingered long on that particular assessment, his mind already back on those who had brought them here.

[sourcebloodaughter]

"Well aren't you the picture of optimism. Lighten up already." Not that she had much room to talk. Her doubt and wariness of Tesla weren't entirely borne of that time he'd tried to kill her mother. Okay, they were, but the reason she hadn't acted upon it was because she remembered trying to kill Helen Magnus herself when she'd been under the Cabal's influence and the fact that Tesla had been working against her to help her mother was the only reason Ashley hadn't taken her anger out on him already. She was giving him a chance to prove to her that Helen's trust wasn't misplaced.

She did look him over as they stood there, trying to figure him out for herself. Obviously, he was from her future. Or would-be future, if she could live long enough to have one. Likely, he knew as much as her mother had and would be just as tight-lipped about saying anything as Helen had been. One more thing Ashley had to look forward to.

"If you're looking for anyone else from our... world or whatever, it's just you, me, and James now."

[geniusforgotten]

"Optimism is a waste of time. It's reality that matters."

He was still trying to decide if she was going to try to kill him. It would be a shame to ruin a perfectly decent suit, and Helen's apparent departure was likely not in his favor.

"I'll be living with ghosts, then. Nice touch."

[sourcebloodaughter]

"So nice." No wonder she had issues with him.

Nothing was in anyone's favor at the moment, but considering Ashley had recently had a run-in with a vampire slayer, she was less likely to put a bullet or a talon through anyone at the moment.

"If you're lucky enough to get an invitation to the apartment. There's plenty of others if someone doesn't like the arrangement."

[geniusforgotten]

"I try." He wasn't terribly bothered by those issues.

He'll appreciate that. He wasn't in the mood for a fight, and he had far too many questions to waste time with old disagreements.

"Good. I like having my own space. Fewer distractions."

[sourcebloodaughter]

"Right."

Ashley folded her arms over her chest, more than happy to get this talk over with and be on her way. She knew he would have questions - what sane person didn't? - and so she waited, watching him to see if he would ask them or just bypass her completely in favor of someone who might be slightly less hostile and wary. Like Glitch. Except Glitch would likely just annoy him.

[geniusforgotten]

He did consider finding someone more personable to speak with about his new surroundings, but that would take time and effort he didn't care to expend.

"And the reason we're here?"

[sourcebloodaughter]

"Hamster aliens got bored seems to be the popular thought," Ashley answered with a shrug. "Haven't really been here long enough to get more of the scoop than that, though I can guarantee I'll find out more soon." She was the Sanctuary's info-monger, after all. Gathering information was what she did.

[geniusforgotten]

"And when you do, I'm sure you'll share that information with the rest of us." He still wasn't thrilled about his abrupt arrival here. "I'm not going to be some alien's plaything."

[sourcebloodaughter]

At least he'd been alive at the time. "If you're nice to me, I will." Ashley.

[geniusforgotten]

"I am being nice."

[sourcebloodaughter]

"I'd hate to see you being mean to someone-- Oh, no, wait, I have."

Yeah, she hasn't forgotten that. But she'll let it slide. For now.

[geniusforgotten]

"Well. I wasn't at my best."

He takes the fact that she hasn't tried to kill him to be a good sign.

[sourcebloodaughter]

It's a very good sign. He should consider himself lucky.

"Right, because someone's fist was through your chest. I've always wondered: how the hell did you survive that?"

She doesn't actually sound sarcastic with that question. She's very interested. Is it part of his vampire genetics or pure luck?

[geniusforgotten]

He frowns slightly, rubbing the area in question.

"I'm apparently harder to kill than I look. It was unpleasant."

It was probably a little of both, but it isn't a memory he's fond of recalling.

[sourcebloodaughter]

So, it might be something she's got, too. Which is, again, both good and bad.

"Like a lot of things here are." Not that she's had a fist through her chest, but she's had her fair share of unfortunate occurrences. Fighting a vampire slayer was definitely one of them.

"So, any other questions or do I get to play tour guide?"

[geniusforgotten]

"Oh, you've tried?" What can he say? It's habit.

He makes a sweeping motion with his hand. "Lead on."

[sourcebloodaughter]

"Nope. I haven't." Someone else had. "Had a fight with a vampire slayer. That was fun."

And speaking of vampires and vampire slayings and all that. She made a tough decision as she started leading the way down the street to the apartment she'd chosen after her mother and the Sanctuary had disappeared.

"By the way." Oh this was going to be harder than she'd expected. She could tell already. One deep breath later, she raised a hand and extended her talons. "Still got 'em."

She didn't want to have to do this, but if something happened and the Cabal arrived and managed to talk control of her again? She wanted someone who could deal with her to know and be able and willing to take her down.

[geniusforgotten]

He was still considering her comment about vampire slayers, wondering how she had attracted their attention. And more importantly, if their knowledge of vampires was accurate. Then the rest of what she had said sank in as he caught sight of the talons.

"And yet, you seem reasonably sane." He said it slowly, thoughtfully, trying to figure out how their alien captors had managed that. Lord knows, he'd tried to find a way to accomplish something similar.