test drive!

[ironwood]

TEST DRIVE MEME - TU SHANSHU EDITION!

Itching to try out writing a character? Then rev up your engines, grab your accounts, and slam your way into this meme! Here is a venue for you to try out whatever character there might be tickling your fancy, from fandom to OC, for as few as one and as many as MANY. Seriously, there's no limit.

How do you partake in this fantastic congregation of character testing? Why, by following these simple steps:

1. Comment with the journal of a character you want to test; put their name and canon in the subject line for added sparkles.
2. Tag around with everyone!
3. Profit like you live on a the back of a turtle!

But wait, there's more! For the low, low price of $9,999.99, you can even use one of our handy prompts when you tag someone. You could even pick one with a Random Number Generator to help decide which prompt to go with!

1. A Chance Meeting at the Turtle's Head.
   Remember, being here causes a great sense of-- well, shall we say inner peace.
2. Haggling Over Something in the Marketplace!
   Maybe someone else saw the exact same shiny thing you did at the exact same moment! However shall this be resolved? Remember: blood is extremely hard to scrub off of turtleshell!
3. Hey, I Just Met You, and This is Crazy...
   First impressions are always the most important, right?
4. WILDCARD!
   Go nuts. Suddenly your character is fighting dragons! Good God, they've found the Millennium Falcon drifting in the ocean! Do you really feel the need to polish every paving stone in the Earth Sector? Please note, Wildcard options are also what you can choose to do if you aren't yet comfortable in the Tu Shanshu setting and would prefer a more 'dear-mun' esque experience. Please specify in your post!

Comments

Some time after meeting Oliver?

[raptorcanaria]

No, it's okay, I really don't need anything, I'm just waiting for someone.

[Guess who arranged to meet his wife outside this cafe at this time, and has obviously been distracted by a shiny looking bow or a new idea for a trick arrow or the chance to give a speech about fascism?

Dinah is carrying a paper bag of motorcycle parts, and is as politely as possible deflecting as many attempts by street vendors to sell her something as she can.]

No, please, I'll eat when he gets here. Thank you, I hope you have better luck today.

[She could do with rescuing.]

Sounds good!

[trustbutverify]

...are they still at it?

[Moira sat on a nearly bench, nursing the headache that was her current life. The adrenaline was still pumping after her heated conversation with Oliver. Or an Oliver. One who certainly had her son's stubbornness, that was for sure. Then again, he probably inherited it from her.]

[It wasn't hard to notice the signs of a woman in roughly the same position as she had found herself an hour prior. Rising to her feet, she made sure to send those stand owners a stern Queen Look before offering a smile.]

So, are you actually waiting for someone, or was that a cover?

[Because she recognizes that trick.]

[raptorcanaria]

Usually I don't mind, but there's something in the water today, I don't know.

[She pushes her hair behind her shoulders and grins a grateful grin for rescuing her from the locals.]

Really am waiting. For my husband, but it'd be asking too much of him to arrive on time.

[trustbutverify]

[Its impossible not to smile at that. The loving, yet still moderately frustrated sentiment was something she knew all too well.]

My son used to be the same way. Still is, now that I think about it.

And even when he shows up on time, you'd barely manage to get in a hello before he was off again.

[Once upon a time, it had been models and parties. Now, it was usually business.]

[raptorcanaria]

Uh huh.

[That sounds more than a little familiar.]

At least this time there's food involved, so at least he'll stay long enough to complain about that, I hope.

[trustbutverify]

I'd say your chances are pretty good.

What does your husband look like? If I see him along the way, maybe I can remind him his loving, patient wife is waiting for him.

[raptorcanaria]

About this tall, blonde with a beard he thinks makes him look dashing.

You'll probably hear him before you see him, though. Listen for the rage about the evils of hereditary monarchy and the rights of the common man.

[Dinah loves Oliver very much.]

[trustbutverify]

[Her brows raise a fraction at the description. It couldn't be...]

[No. Of course not. A lot of men had blonde hair and beards. As for the rage...well, she was still a little put out by the circumstances herself. Anyone would be.]

Blonde, bearded, and beside himself. I think I can remember that.

[She extended a hand, tilting her head upward a fraction out of residual pride. Having to actually introduce herself was still a novel concept, but proper upbringing dictated it.]

I'm Moira. Moira Queen.

[raptorcanaria]

[Dinah tenses, not quite sure what to do with that. She's seen pictures of Moira Queen, of course, but she'd never spent time looking at them. Now, though, she looks familiar.

But that could also be her imagination.

She shakes the offered hand.]

Dinah. Dinah Lance.

[trustbutverify]

[It was Moira's turn to tense up.]

...that wouldn't be Dinah Laurel Lance, would it?

[raptorcanaria]

That would be me.

[The tenseness means recognition, and the recognition is a relief, but it's a relief that comes with a whole lot of awkward. So she offers a grin.]

Hi.

[What do you say to a surprise!mother in law?]

[trustbutverify]

Laurel.

[Surprise was an understatement. She looked the other woman up and down several times. It was only thanks to seeing Oliver already that she was even willing to believe it.]

You look so... [Old? Different? Relaxed?] ...blonde.

[raptorcanaria]

[Please don't call her old? Thanks.

Dinah doesn't correct the name choice, it doesn't seem relevent just now, when she's already introduced herself as Dinah.]

I started dying it a few years ago, it seems more me. You don't like it?

[Suddenly her opinion matters.]

[trustbutverify]

[Consider it done.]

[The name had just slipped out, having known Laurel Dinah for several years. She had always been so good for Oliver, she thought. A mother's bias, perhaps, but there was a subtle feeling of warmth inside to know the two of them had finally worked things out in at least one universe.]

It suits you.

Dare I ask what my son thinks of it?

[raptorcanaria]

[Well.

The first time they made love after she had it done, he tried to tear it off, thinking it was a wig. That's sadly where Dinah's brain goes.]

You know, I never really asked his opinion? I assume he likes it.

[She gestures over her shoulder at the cafe.]

You want to come inside, get an appetizer? You know what his time keeping skills are like.

[trustbutverify]

[She would greatly appreciate you keeping that bit of information to yourself, Dinah. She loves you and she loves Oliver, but she doesn't need to know the details as to how you love each other....]

I don't suppose a very tall glass of wine comes with that deal?

[raptorcanaria]

I don't see why it wouldn't.

[She opens the door into the cafe and stands aside to let Moira pass.]

Though I should warn you - the wine doesn't come from grapes. It's tasty enough, though.

[trustbutverify]

As long as it's in a chilled glass, I wouldn't care if it was made from raisins.

[A burst of fresh air hit her the moment they stepped inside the cafe. Fresh, sugary air. The smell of baked sweets permeating the entire room. It was quite nice, actually. Different than what she was used to. Quaint.]

I can't remember the last time I came to eat in a place like this.

[raptorcanaria]

[Right, of course. Because Ollie's parents were presumably better at holding on to money than he is, and ate at better places.]

That's probably because there isn't a place like this on Earth. Mrs. Queen, the food you're about to taste is out of this world.

[As long as that doesn't have to mean good. She grabs the attention of one of the waiting kedan and they take a table near the window.]

[trustbutverify]

[gdi, Ollie Actually, that much would have surprised her. For all that he had changed ever since returning home, one skill about him that Moira had slowly begun to admire was his new responsibilities in starting up that night club business of his. A little too into his old element, maybe, but it had already taught him so much about things he had once taken for granted.]

Somehow, I find that less reassuring than probably intended.

[She took a seat, side-eying the chairs. And the table. And, really, everything else. When it came time to place an order, she made no move to conceal her desire for alcohol. The coldest bottle they had, preferably. She made sure there was more than enough money in her pocket to cover the cost, considering it was supposed to last her for who knows how long?]

[raptorcanaria]

I was going more for dry irony.

[Dinah sits at the table much more casually, smiling at the waiter and ordering a drink and some appetizers for them both with enthusiasm. The food's not amazing during rationing, but she knows what is good.]

So, I guess I should admit here that I know very little about you. Which doesn't appear to be mutual?

[trustbutverify]

Apparently not.

I've known you and your father for years, Laurel. Though I can't say he was much of a fan of our family.

[raptorcanaria]

You knew my Dad?

[She lets 'Laurel' drop again at this revelation. Not only is Moira alive, but an acquaintance of Dinah's family? She's surprised, and it's obvious.]

[trustbutverify]

[Habit.]

[Though she couldn't help raising an eyebrow at the deliberate past tense.]

I still do.

[In other words, the man was very much still alive. As far as she knew.]

[raptorcanaria]

[Moira being alive was one thing. Dinah never knew her to miss her, and could only understand in the abstract what Ollie must be going through.

Her father being alive...

...she covers her mouth with the fingers of one hand, for a few seconds speechless.]

He's alive?