SPRING TEST DRIVE

[thespaceopera]

THE SPRING TEST DRIVE MEME
(Or Fall Test Drive for you Southern Hemisphere folks!)

Got someone you want to try out before you app? Well this is the post for it! Feel free to use anything that fits in the setting of Drift Fleet! Want to play bumper shuttles? Want to go wild in a med bay? Play around with the current plot? Have at it!

Threads from the Test-Drive may be made game "canon" but DO NOT count toward AC!

FOR NEW PLAYERS: You DO NOT NEED an invite to participate in the TEST DRIVE! If you decide to APP into the game, ONLY THEN will you need an invite from a current player!

Helpful Info for Ideas!:

March's Star System

February's Star System

Game Details

Test drives are posted SEASONALLY, so the next one will be in June!

Comments

Planetside

[mikangirl]

[If it reminds her strongly of Luceti, it's probably not going to help to catch sight of a familiar figure in one of the grocery stores, rolling an apple back and forth in her hands with curiosity.

Nami's not sure she should trust the food here. The whole place being deserted is super creepy. On the other hand, she's awfully tired of not having fresh fruit around aside from her own, and while she dearly loves mikans, some variety wouldn't go astray.

Hell with it, she'll pack a basket and ask Sam for a second opinion later.]

[watermarks]

[...no, no she is not helped by this at all.

Don't mind the staring, Nami, she can't help it.

...no, seriously, she'll move in a minute, say something in a minute, it's just -- it's been years but there is no way she could ever forget you.]

[mikangirl]

[It's not going to take long to register the stare as she's wandering the fruit stalls, and Nami stills, peering at her curiously. It's a vaguely familiar face. Still a new one, she thinks.

...oh. Uh.]

Hey. If there was someone I could pay for this stuff, I probably would. [Probably.] And it all gets replaced daily anyway, apparently.

[That's why you're staring. Right?]

1/2

[watermarks]

[...oh.

Of course.

Well. It was better this way anyway. Nami had a miserable time in Luceti, even though she had been brave and strong and a fierce friend... if this version of her didn't remember her time there, then Katara hoped that it was because she had a better time either here or elsewhere.]

[watermarks]

[She offers the stranger - being used to this doesn't matter, it still sucks - a small smile.]

Yeah, I heard that. Sorry, I didn't mean to stare. You just - remind me of someone. [A small shrug.] I'm Katara. I'm guessing you're on the fleet too, like everyone else here seems to be?

1/2

[mikangirl]

[Katara...? Why does that sound familiar?]

Yeah, that's right. I hope I remind you of someone cute, at least.

[Look, she can't resist, okay.]

[mikangirl]

[But it's not long before Katara's looks and her name slot into a place in her memory, and she gives her a more curious look.]

...Katara as in Sokka's sister?

[watermarks]

[...of course she says that. Katara lets out a small 'heh' of a laugh and shakes her head.

Someone cute. Someone who pierced my ears for me. Someone who taught me how to fight with a bo. Someone who shared her heart and her home with me. Someone who I could trust. Someone who...

And then a shrug.] Yeah, of course.

[And at the mention of Sokka her face brightens.] Yes, Sokka's my brother.

[Even though apparently he'd been somewhere else and he'd been here, he was still her brother. Which was... something, and something good.]

1/2

[mikangirl]

Ah! [Her eyes light up.] That's great! He was so sad when you left, I bet he's over the moon now--

[mikangirl]

[Oh jeez Nami, not appropriate--]

I mean-- sorry. It's not really a good thing to get stuck in these places, I know. That's a little callous. But he did miss you.

Ah... do you remember being here before? [Given she kind of let that cat out of the bag.]

[watermarks]

Oh, um... [A pained expression flickers over her face before it fades into a wry sort of acceptance.] This is the first time I remember ever being here. I know it's hard for him to deal with that, but... we're getting through it. It's a little strange for me, since I was somewhere like this before, so I've seen this happen to other people before, just... never to me.

[She has a lot more empathy with Zuko and Toph now, that's for sure.

...and screw it, she doesn't want to lie:] ...and see, that's why I was staring. Because you remind me a lot of my friend Nami.

[mikangirl]

[Her eyes widen a little at that. But...

...she honestly isn't that surprised.

After a moment, the same sort of pained expression crosses her face, but it's not on her own behalf.]

That... happens a lot, here. People coming in from other places. I know I've been to at least two others, and another one I even remember. But not... you. Sorry.

Where did you come in from?

[watermarks]

[Katara meets Nami's gaze then and shakes her head.] You don't need to apologize. [Even though it hurts, it hurts to say this, it hurts to look at Nami and say this.] It's -- out of our control, a risk we take with making friends here. It's worth it. I'm sorry if the way I said it was strange or - too much, or if talking with me is strange now. I just didn't want to lie to you.

[She looks away after that, which she knows is more than what Nami asked for, but she felt like she had to say it anyway. She takes a breath and then turns back to Nami with a half-shrug.] We met in a place called Luceti. If you want to know anything about it, I'll tell you.

[mikangirl]

Well, I'm not really apologising. I just know a little how much of a kick to the gut it is, not having friends recognise you anymore. [She grins faintly.] But hey, at least you thought I was cute.

[Little joke there, haha. To break the mood. She comes a little closer, setting her basket down.]

I've heard of Luceti. At this point, I guess I'm not really surprised. People keep turning up to claim they know me from somewhere. I don't think anyone knew me as well as you apparently did, though.

[Like seriously Max was like We've met. You kicked me.]

If we were friends before, we'll be friends again, right? Unless I'm a lot different from your Nami.

[watermarks]

[Well... there's a lot to process there, but ultimately? Katara just smiles, soft and hopeful.] I'd like that. And I'd like to learn more about the other places where you were before, and about this place as well. And - like I said, anything you want to ask about Luceti or how I remember you there is fair game. And if you don't want to ask, that's fine too. It's not the first time I've had to start over with someone. [A breath, a nod.] And I'd like to do that, very much.

[mikangirl]

[Friendships are important with Straw Hats, apparently. She adopted Ginko when he said Usopp had asked him to join the crew in another place.]

Settled. I probably will ask you a lot of questions. [Eventually. Just one for now. Even so, she hesitates before asking.]

Was I...the only one there? From my crew?

[watermarks]

I'm - not sure if it's good news or bad news, but no, you weren't. [A soft, brilliant smile that carries the pain of and I miss them at the edges, but mostly is just and I am so glad I got to know them.] I got to know most of your crew pretty well. Chopper was teaching me how to make medicine and Sanji was one of the first friends I made in Luceti. Brook taught me how to play the koto. [A half of a shrug and a smile.] Luffy and I even sparred with bubbles once.

[Those were good memories, unlike many of her conversations with Nami. Katara's smile fades a little, but there's a clarity to her gaze which indicates what she is about to say is a Very Good Thing.] You weren't there, the last I remember. I thought you'd gone home. I was happy for you.

[So... sorry to see you here, but glad to see you? Even if you don't remember, which... as much as it hurts... Katara is kind of grateful for. Nami had been hurt so badly in Luceti, so repeatedly... Katara hopes that she had a better experience, wherever else she was.]

[mikangirl]

[Nami's own smile is a little pained, for a multitude of reasons. So many of them caught in so many different places. Including herself. She's given up trying to question it. As long as the place was better than Adstringendum, in the end.]

I'm the only one here. [That's the other pain. It's been years. She misses her crew.] Luffy was here for maybe two weeks. Robin for the same. But other than that, it's just me.

[Well, Sam's here. But Katara won't associate Sam with crew.]

look at their first thread, all serious and with hugs lurking around the corner...

[watermarks]

[There's a moment of pained silence.

Because - as horrible as it is to see what happens to those you love in places like this, if they're there - at least you're together. And that... that makes it better. And she knows what the Straw Hats are to Nami.

Quietly:] How long have you been here?

IKR ;;

[mikangirl]

[Nami has to calculate. It becomes a little harder when you get dropped into cold sleep every now and then and wake up with new memories, let's see...]

About two and a half years. Before that, I spent a year in another place, but some of the crew were there, at least. [It just wasn't a great place.]

I kind of switch between being glad they're not here and missing them. But if they're stuck in all these other places, I wish they could at least be here with me.

[watermarks]

Oh. [It's a small sound, but it's an echo of pain. Katara is so sorry, Nami. She knows those words don't mean anything, but she is so, so sorry.

She'd hug you now, if you knew her. But a hug from a stranger doesn't mean anything, not really, and could be unwelcome, besides.

But she can't help reaching a hand out and placing it on Nami's shoulder.] That has to be so hard. I wish I knew what to say. I know you don't know me, and I know you'll make the best of it wherever you are, but... still.

[mikangirl]

[Nami doesn't know her. But it's hard to mistake that sincerity. The heartache on her behalf.

...nobody's actually really commiserated with her on that level before, she thinks. It's nice. It also makes her miss her crew something fierce. And by extension, wistful about the friendship she never had or can't remember, right here.]

Well. I've grown used to it. [That... sounds more callous than she meant, and she follows it up with a cheerful smile.] That is-- I'd cheer if they turned up, I think. But in the meantime, I'm not unhappy here. There are some good people on the Fleet.

[She thinks Sokka has missed Katara painfully for at least that long, but if Katara doesn't already know that down to her bones, Nami would be surprised.]

...thank you, though. I appreciate it.

[watermarks]

[Katara gives Nami a small smile and nods, dropping her hand back down.] I'm glad to hear it. There were some amazing people in Luceti too - it almost made being there worth it, just to meet them. I'm looking forward to getting to know the people here too.

[...even if it just means that they will leave, and that it will suck, it is better to care, better to live, even if it hurts.]

[mikangirl]

[Nami agrees with that sentiment. It's probably...just as well she doesn't remember Luceti.

But now they have the painful stuff out the way, she aims for a lighter subject.]

So...friends with Sanji-kun, huh? [What a shock.] That must've been fun getting to know him.

1/2

[watermarks]

[Bright smile with only he smallest shadow of 'I miss him'!] It was! Sanji's amazing--

[...oh wait, she sees where this is going.]