xavier_institute_ooc | (no subject)

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*test drive meme

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THE TEST DRIVE MEME

This is for anyone wanting to test out their characters in the setting before the applications open, see what clicks. Multiples will be allowed for this post, and you can generally assume any threads are a self-contained continuity unless you feel like getting creative.

Just post a thread with your CHARACTER NAME and CANON NAME in the title with a prompt and others will reply. Prompts and threads can be action spam or prose or whatever. These threads can be used on the sample section of your application, as well. Go out and have fun!

We also ask that you please pardon our dust. We're working very hard to get this game up and running and hope to be open by September 1st!

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It takes him a second to register that she's speaking while she obviously can't be speaking, and another to work out the obvious explanation. He's not really used to anyone else around him having powers, yet; at most, they're something on the news, usually cast in a not entirely pleasant light.

That said, he's actually quite pleased by it, and can't help laughing goodnaturedly as the surprise wears off.

"I-.. ah, yes, it is. My apologies, Miss, that was a trick I've never encountered before... although I imagine I'll be saying that quite a lot, here." He hesitates briefly, continuing with just a trace of hesitation. "Ah... Alric, my name's Alric."

Depending on how much she's up on small European countries, the name might ring bells, but considering the coverage of Europe in the US, it would be easy for someone to barely have heard of a monarchic nation called Kaitheny.

"You'll get used to it, if this place is the same as when I... left, I guess." Now that she was done taking her notes on the piece she was working on, she looks up at the newcomer properly. She figured he was older than her, by his voice, he's cute. Too old for her, but cute. ...He'd probably be the right age for her if she didn't lose some of her life.

"Maya, it's nice to meet you. You probably guessed what I do." She smiled, just a bit of devil in the curve of her lip, "I play music."

If he's too old, it's not by much; for all his elevated diction, he's just a bit over 19, himself. He returns the smile, either way, restrained but reassuring--a sincere, gallant combination of sympathy and confidence. The melancholy tone in her music clearly wasn't just in the music, and he can't resist trying to help at least a little.

"The pleasure's mine, I'm sure, Miss Maya. And, ah... yes, it seems you do have impressive powers, in that area. I gather you have some superhuman control over other sorts of sound, as well?"

He smiles a little more, playfully, letting the stealth-compliment sink in. Of course, he'd only just met her, but he knows at least that when he's been down, he'd be cheered up best by surprise, as though catching his dark mood unawares before it could fortify its position.

Maya's not even sixteen, or she's twenty, depends on if you go by age or birthdate, which is wholly unfair. She plays with a strand of hair hanging near her headphones, calm and collected as she falls back into how things usually work, sharing what you can do. She had her pride as an artist to consider, "The music is my completely human control over my cello bow, I don't use my powers when I do that. But yes, I control sound. It's why I wear these headphones, to help keep me from getting drowned in everything."

Maya decided to play a little, she posed and gave herself a bit of fanfare for it. She could still do little things and smile about her own powers. sat down casually after her little bit of showing off. The little joys didn't stay joyful, when she remembered all the people who enjoyed her little stunts. "I'm one of the ones who got stuck after the Phoenix Event happened, so this is like a ghost of a school I used to know. Also my music references will be dated. I'm not caught up yet."

Alric chuckled at her little parlor trick and nodded his approval--although his smile grows fainter--more concerned, and sympathetic--as Maya's good mood falters again suddenly.

"Mm... I'm sorry. I... heard about the incident, of course. I was only vaguely aware of the Institute, at the time, but it was a difficult thing for anyone not to notice, I suppose."

He pauses a moment.

"...as to the music, I can't promise my grasp of pop culture will be entirely cutting-edge, but if there's anything I can do to help you adjust... ...well. To be quite candid, I've never really been around other people with... abilities for any length of time, myself. I've no doubt I'll have abundant cause to express my thanks to those who can help me to adjust."

"We're not that different from people without powers. Not unless you make yourself all about it," Maya's tone changed as she leveled her gaze, she was about as subtle about her displeasure as you could be. "My powers are only a big part of who I am because they become a bit unavoidable, but most people are just people. Who can occasionally blow things up."

"You shouldn't worry about the music thing, I'll figure it out on my own. It'll just take time. Like everything else does."

...the unavoidability bit, he can certainly understand, even if it's in a somewhat different way. The difficulties for him usually come in short, intense bursts, rather than a daily grind.

"Mm, of course..." He smiles contemplatively at her observations on mutant life. "Even when the powers themselves aren't causing problems directly, their presence alone can, ah... complicate our lives. Even so, I'll need a little while to acclimate to not being the only one. My mother had been, but.."

He quickly trails off at that, softening the somewhat abrupt topic change as much as possible, and revives his smile, which had faded slightly.

"..well, that's quite another story. At any rate, I'll not worry about the music, if you wish, but the offer stands--let me know if I can do anything to make myself useful, please, Miss Maya. I, ah... dabble in music a little, myself, so if you should feel the need for accompaniment..."

"My powers are always causing problems directly, I mean... there are the pluses to them. I wouldn't give them up if some idiot tries to sell a cure. It just took a while to get used to it. Like hearing people try to discretely have sex on campus." Was Maya just picking the most awkward example, or trying to be warning on things that are her level of issue. She did love the freedoms she had with her powers, the little things she could do, the pranks, the tricks. The whispered warnings to friends and the fact she could sneak up on anyone. But... she could also do without people talking about her like she was a ghost, and hearing them do it.

Everyone was out of practice hiding their comments.

"Oh, if I can think of something useful I'm not shy," Granted, only her headphones really said shy. She didn't show off enough skin to be considered slutty, but she showed off enough that she was not scared of cold weather. "You should be careful with that offer, I've played since I was a kid. I'm very good."

He was a caught rather off guard at that particular example and glances aside, although he smirks more than he reddens at it, one hand raising to scratch at the back of his head.

Ahem.

"...mm. I can imagine that, ahh... could take a little getting used to, yes..."

He lets out a breath and turns his attention back to her, though, when she speaks up again, making like he was totally just checking out the music room. He's accustomed to a certain sort of teasing, however, and regains his composure quickly.

"Well, at the risk, in the worst case, of accompanying my better and embarrassing myself, the offer stands, Miss Maya. So long as you'll forgive me if I prove not to be your peer."

"No kidding." At least now she had enough life experience to be more jealous than disgusted... which didn't actually make it better, just a different level of annoying and distracting. "You still haven't mentioned your abilities. Not that it matters too much, but it will come up. Especially if its useful like predicting the weather or toasting bread."

"So long as you aren't American Idol reject bad, I'm sure it won't be too much of a problem." Maya pauses, realizes she made a reference to something that could be dated. "...They haven't canceled American Idol have they?"

He laughs lightly at the suggestion of bread-toasting powers, and the American Idol reference.

"..ah.. no, I.. don't believe they have, yet. Perhaps unsurprisingly, pop stars and underdog success stories remain popular. But, ah, pardon the omission, I'm honestly still adjusting to being... unknown, so to speak. It's... I suppose you'd sum it up as 'plasma generation.' ...possibly a bit excessive for making toast, not much help with the weather."

"I've been out of the loop for five years, I'm still adjusting to that little detail," adjusting to things seems to be the theme at this school. Moreso compared to previous years.

"On the plus side, I can just skip to the really talented people who were in the finals, and then see how their career didn't take off!" See, there's a silver lining to this torrential thunderstorm that is her life.

"Ah... yes, I suppose that's true. I believe one or two have remained a bit popular afterward, but they do tend to fade away once they're on their own. Sadly, a number of quite talented people seemed to be ousted for the very eccentricities and deviations from the mold that made them rather interesting. ...but perhaps that's an inherent danger of making popularity one's mission."

...which might be an odd statement, since he doesn't exactly send Loner Outcast Nerd Vibes, himself.

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