Test Drive Meme | February 2014

[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!
4. Maybe even reserve so you CAN live on 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. Have Met Before? Because I Could've Sworn I've Seen You In My Dreams.
   Have you wandered into the realm of Dreaming via an archway in Keeliai? Here, everything is shaped to your character's individual mind. Dreams can be shared between characters and will result in a meshing of minds. These dreams can be positive or negative, depending on your character.
4. Dramatic Chase Sequence!
   You're running away from something! It could be anything, from a rampaging kirin to a gaggle of overly enthusiastic children, or even one of the newest editions to Keeliai's menagerie, an incredibly affectionate turtle the size of a minivan! One way or another, you can't stop, and much like a katamari ball, you feel obligated to grab everyone in your path along the way to keep them out of danger! Or perhaps you're more the sort to try and knock them into it as a distraction...?
5. Shapeshifting Shenanigans
   The native kedan are shapeshifters and it seems like something's gotten into the water supply, because you suddenly find yourself able to duplicate that particular skill! Whether you're any good at it or not remains to be seen...
6. 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

Tallant Wayne | DC Elseworlds

[batmullet]

I am horrible.

[painetched]

[ There's a one-eyed man with silver in his hair, body still very much fit and muscular, perching behind this... Batman. It's a costume design that he hasn't seen in decades, and the man inside... ]

[ It's neither Bruce nor Terry, as far as Dick can tell. Definitely not himself, either. ]

That's some big shoes you're fillin' in, kid.

[batmullet]

[Tallant turns around at the sound of being addressed. He doesn't recognize the man speaking in the slightest. The people of the turtle--the Kedan?--had said that people came from all over the--what was the word again? oh yes--multiverse, but this man seemed to know who the Batman was. Interesting.]

I'm aware, but that won't stop me from trying anyway. [Gotham needs a Batman, now more than ever.]

[painetched]

[ Dick's eyebrow rises. ]

That bad, is it.

[ Toto, I don't think we're in Gotham, anymore... ]

All alone?

[ It's the only conclusion he can reach, from the way the young man reacts to the address. There's slightly less steel and a little more concern, in that single blue eye. ]

[batmullet]

No worse than it's been the last 50 years. [If anything, it's getting better. Now he has the cure.

He might not be as serious as his father, but he can furrow his brow like a true Wayne.] Why do you want to know? Who are you?

[painetched]

[ Long, long hard look. He's not been impressed with that eyebrow for most of said half-century's worth of time. ]

My name is Dick Grayson.

[ If that means anything ... in whatever reality this Batman's coming from. ]

[batmullet]

[There's a few seconds of stunned silence... followed by a very un-Batman-like expression: his eyes light up. Because here, in the flesh, was someone he had only read about.]

Bruce Wayne's ward? [There were a million different ways he would have phrased that if they weren't standing in the middle of a crowded street.]

[painetched]

Yeah... fifty years or so ago.

[ There's definite amusement in Dick's voice, but also... something else. The kid reminds him of Terry, except he isn't. ]

What's your name?

[batmullet]

[Fifty years? But according to Alfred's journal...

The frown returns.] Batman. [Middle. of. the. street.]

Is there somewhere we can talk in private?

[painetched]

[ And Dick gives a very, very clear kid, please look that nobody could mistake for anything other than what it is. ]

[ On the other hand, that's a good question. This is still new territory for Dick, so he ... shrugs. And points up. ]

Rooftops usually work. There's some taller buildings in Metal.

[batmullet]

[Excuse you, he might be new at this but he knows he shouldn't just give his name out in a crowd.]

In... where? [But rooftops work.]

[painetched]

[ Sure, but there are less attitude-filled ways to do it. ]

[ Dick sighs, then unfolds from his perch to leap up and bounce off a window ledge and then flip easily to the nearest rooftop. ]

Follow me.

[batmullet]

[Wow, this guy is just as acrobatic as he was in Alfred's stories.

Tallant, sadly, is not that acrobatic, so he makes do with his grappling hook, following the one-eyed former Robin to what he hopes will be somewhere he could talk more openly.]

[painetched]

[ Dick almost smirks, at the grapple. But not quite. He's used to minimizing the use of the lines, and also to Terry using the other options that his Batsuit offers. ]

[ He pauses when they're about to cross into the richer section of town. ]

Water Sector.

[ He motions behind himself. ]

Metal Sector.

[ And a wave ahead, where low scyscrapers puncture the skyline. ]

You can see how people like us can get more privacy there.

[batmullet]

[Tallant's jaw almost hits the floor. He'd never seen such a sight outside of his mother's books before. So this is what Gotham could look like...]

They're incredible. [And still standing!]

[painetched]

[ Dick stops. This... this is nothing, to Gotham. Gotham from his youth, let alone the Gotham of his present. ]

[ He stares at the young man in the mask, and, then, very quietly. ]

What happened to Gotham?

[batmullet]

50 years of sickness and anarchy. [Clenches a fist.]

You asked me who I was, and I apologize for my non-answer before... [He pulls the cowl off. He's practically the spitting image of his father.. if Bruce ever decided to rock a mullet.] My name is Tallant, and Bruce Wayne was my father.

[painetched]

... you mean an epidemic.

[ Still quiet. He takes the young man in. As is. And, no, basically it was Dick with the mullet. A very long time ago. ]

He never fathered a biological son, in my world.

[ As far as he knows. But Dick shakes that thought, and steps closer, reaching out a hand to shake. ]

's good to meet you, Tallant Wayne. How long've you been shouldering the city on your own?

[batmullet]

[Nods.] The Honduras Strain-9 virus. It's killed billions.

It's still odd, this concept of different worlds... [After a short pause, he then adds.] I must say, I pictured you differently from Mr. Pennyworth's descriptions.

[Tallant takes Dick's hand and gives it a firm shake.]

Not long enough. I've only recently learned of my father's legacy, and there's much work to be done before I could be a Batman he could be proud of.

[stealstires]

[Jason actually doesn't mind the place as much. Living on top of a turtle is pretty cool, and any place where he gets a free house can sing him up. He's not going to just go with it and he's fully aware that he was kidnapped, but he's been kidnapped so many times he can at least appreciate when they are nice about it. Maybe that's how they get you, Stockholm syndrome and all.

But as many horrible things Jason is imagining his captors might have come up with while they make him feel safe, as soon as he spots a certain black costume he knows everything will be alright.

Out of the blue, a little Robin landing right by his side.]

Not that I'm not glad to see you, but what's with the costume-in-broad-daylight thing you've got going on? Everyone is going to see you.

[batmullet]

[Tallant is too fascinated with what the city of Keeliai has to offer to think too deeply on the fact he has been brought here against his will. Never in his life has he seen this many buildings still standing, and not one of them had an armed guard or was surrounded by barbed wire. People actually walked the streets during the daytime... he honestly didn't realize how loud cities could be. And then there was the smells, so many amazing, delicious-smelling scents coming out of what seemed like an endless supply of restaurants (restaurants!). It's amazing.

It isn't until Jason speaks does he realize that he is no longer alone on the street, he had been so wrapped up in everything around him. He quickly chastizes himself to be more vigilant.]

That's the point. How are people supposed to know I'm here if they... don't...

[He loses what he was going to say when he actually looks at the boy speaking to him and sees the costume. He knows that costume. The one he's familiar with has seen seen better days, but it's undoubtedly one and the same.]

You're wearing a Robin costume. [He doesn't know whether to be insulted or excited.]

[stealstires]

Uh. Yeah? [Oh, shit.

Batman doesn't recognize Robin? Or, he recognizes the costume but he doesn't recognize him which is actually kind of worse. Does that mean he'd have recognized Dick? ...That's a stupid question, of course he'd have recognized the golden boy.

So he wasn't only brought to some strange weird land on top of a turtle, he was also brought here with a Batman who doesn't know who he is. Wonderful. The Kedan did mention something like a dream realm so maybe all of this is his subconcious telling him he should listen to Alfred and stop drinking soda drinks before bed.]

And you're wearing a Batman costume in the middle of the day. When he's supposed to be kind of an urban legend people can't really prove. And you being seen in the light of day might end up ruining all that. You following?

[batmullet]

Maybe in the past he worked best as an urban legend, but the people of Gotham City need to know that there is now someone they can depend on again. [He looks around the perfectly standing city of Keeliai.] But I suppose that doesn't exactly apply here. Would you prefer we took this conversation to a rooftop or an alleyway?

[Because really, his knowledge of "batman" consists of Alfred's old journals, as well as the stories that Mr. Gordon, Oracle, and his mother have told him. He's not a rooftops and shadows kind of guy, but sure he'll run with it.]

[stealstires]

[Someone they can 'depend on'? Jason purses his lips. Bruce had always made it clear he didn't want people to assume he'd be there to help them, he didn't want people to depend on him. He wanted people to have a chance, and even though Bruce had never said it out loud Jason also thought he had wanted to inspire people to fight their own fights, to not let themselves get stepped on.

But depending on the Batman... yeah, no, whoever this Batman is its definitely not Bruce.]

Rooftop sounds about right, because I'm getting the feeling we'll both have a lot of explaining to do. Go, I'll follow. [Batman is the only person on Earth he'd simply follow, even if it isn't Bruce.]

[batmullet]

[Tallant was all for people fighting their own battles. However, when people were too afraid to even leave their homes during the day, they needed something to inspire confidence first.

He fires his line at the nearest roof. If this boy really is Robin, he has no doubt he can follow just fine.]

I apologize if I don't recognize you, but which Robin are you? Richard or Jason? [The only reason he doesn't ask about Tim is because he knew through the journals that his outfit was different.]