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

howard "shots are on peggy" stark

[speedboat]

marsiva/network;;

[ he's done this too many times to not take it in stride, popping up off the bunk with not a hint of hesitation as he smooths down his suit and adjusts his tie, tipping his hat as his mustache twitches pleasantly and he deals a wink to all the people watching out there in the universe. ]

Special Guest Star Howard Stark is back, in the flesh. You're welcome. [ he chuckles, a warmly affected sound as he puts his hands in his pockets as if he couldn't be more at ease. ] Peg. Jarvis. Steve. Tell me you held that wedding for me, or I'm going to be very cross with you three.

Which brings me to another matter... they've taken my ship from me again, haven't they? Well, I suppose it is selfish not to spread myself around, share the love as it were. Which one of you lucky crews is in need of the best pilot this side of the galaxy? I promise I know how to treat a lady. [ he acts like it's no big deal, but he misses the huntress and the ss bishop as though they were old flames he still carries. ]

Well. I guess the only thing left is to wait for our ratings to go sky-high now that I'm back in the building. Meet me on the Iskaulit later, shots are on me given they haven't drained my accounts again. The Atroma really needs to work on their hospitality. Or at least rename this deck.

iskaulit;;

[ howard will be easily found at the melting pot where he'll have jarvis make anyone a cherry pie on the house, or the space bar where he'll be chugging a bloody mary and happy for anyone to join him. maybe he's more subdued than he might normally be, all of this disappearing from the fleet and returning has worn him out maybe. ]

Tell me about the last system. If my track record is anything to go by, I missed at least our last orbit, if not the one before.

wildcard;;

[ throw something else at me or hit up hotdoge for anything specific!! ]

[mucked]

-- Said like that, you make it sound like Steve and I are marrying Jarvis. [ HELLO HOWARD, it's not that she's not pleased to see you it's just that it's happened often enough that she can at least pretend not to be excited.

oh and yeah the wedding hasn't happened yet. lots of opportunity, then, for howard to make a hot mess of himself at the reception still. ]

[speedboat]

As if you two could be so lucky. [ have a softer version of his usual smile, the one he breaks out for peggy and only peggy tbh. that's got to be a ratings goldmine. ]

[mucked]

Tragically, you're not wrong.

[ a beat. ]

How are you, Howard?

[speedboat]

I have an annoying habit of being right about these things, pal.

[ how is he? disoriented, frustrated, and now... relieved. as long as his only two friends in the world are here this is where he belongs. but steve being here is a big step up from actual real life. for both of them, he knows. ]

Never better, especially now that I get to look at your pretty face. Even if it is through a screen for now.

[mucked]

Flattery gets you nowhere. Especially not off the Marsiva. You'll have to wait -- and then we'll have you 'round ASAP.

[ a beat. she'd never say this to just anyone -- and she only says it to howard because he's one of the few bastards who actually knows the date. ]

You missed my birthday.

[speedboat]

Don't I know it. [ he looks around like there isn't one corner of this place he doesn't know already, pitching a breathy sigh as he fixates back on her. a deep crease comes over his forehead, mustache twitching downward with his lips as they twist into a frown. oh, no no that won't do at all. ]

Peg. Tell me you're joking.

[mucked]

By three days.

[speedboat]

That's it. I'm penning an angry letter to our mysterious captors. [ missing peggy's birthday is the last straw okay. ] How was it without me? Overwhelmingly dull, I'm sure.

iskaulit

[peacekeep]

[Beth really isn't sure what she's doing here. She just heard a nice guy mention this place and she isn't about to just sit alone brooding so she figures this is as good of a time as any to try establishing her first contact. The fact that this guy's treating her to cherry pie makes her more amenable to conversation but nothing's going to stop her from looking lost at just about everything he's just said. Can't they just eat cherry pie and sit quietly??]

I wasn't here for any of the other systems. This all is my first space rodeo.

[speedboat]

[ he always loves hearing an american accent in this place. and on a pretty girl? music to his ears. howard takes a long sip of his (irish) coffee and smiles at her with a twitch of his mustache over the rim. ]

How exciting for you, dollface. Well, if you need any pointers, I'm your man. I mean, an information source you can... tap. [ welp. he sets down his cup and leans towards her a fraction. ] This is my fourth time on the Fleet. I've picked up a few things.

[peacekeep]

[The corner of her mouth twitches, unable to decide if it wants to be a smile or a concerned frown. He's a real character, and she can just imagine all the things her daddy'd say about him. ]

My name's Beth.

[It's what she chooses to address first, since dollface isn't really going to work out for her.]

You must be real good at picking up something, if they've brought you back four times. Either that, or you're a real glutton for punishment.

[speedboat]

Beth. [ he corrects with a warm tone. he's used to these modern women not appreciating what passes for etiquette in the 40s. it doesn't put him off like it once did. ] The pleasure is all mine. I'm Howard, Howard Stark.

[ as she goes on he laughs, though the sound is a bit tinny to be completely sincere. he takes a long drink before trying to retort. ]

They just can't take too much of me at a time, you see. I'm a lot to handle.

[peacekeep]

[She doesn't exactly get a lot of one on one attention from men. The way he says her name makes her feel like sunshine and it puts a little color on her cheeks. She figures that means it's a real good time to focus entirely on that pie. ]

My daddy always said anybody that knows they're trouble ain't worth their weight in gold.

[The smile on her face and the amusement in her voice is evidence enough she's just teasing.]

[speedboat]

[ he laughs again, an easy, warm sound. like it's getting easier to pretend as he goes. ] Your father sounds like a smart man. Though trouble comes with its own benefit, at times.

the bar

[magneticfields]

[ Erik is at a loss. He has no idea where he is or why. He knows what he's been told, but that information is unsatisfactory, to say the least. So of course, his mission now is to return to Earth by any means necessary. And to do that, he needs more information. Information not included in the welcome packet.

The bar is as good a place as any to start trying to gather intel. He saunters in as if he's just interested in finding his way around. His posture is as relaxed as it ever gets, the expression on his face not quite as severe. There aren't many in the bar at whatever hour this is, but there is one who seems like he might be a decent source. Or at least outgoing enough that he presents a place to start, anyway.

Before he even gets a chance to introduce himself the man is asking him a question. His eyebrows lift slightly before he shakes his head and lifts his hands in apology. ]

I've only just arrived, unfortunately. I'm still not entirely sure where we are. [ He leans against the bar. ] What would you say are my chances of getting a decent scotch here?

[speedboat]

[ he lifts his eyebrows at the admission and nods his understanding. even if this man couldn't help him fill in the blanks, at least he might be good company. howard had missed that about this place, even if he'd be loathe to admit it. being close quarters with others forced a certain degree of social activity in order to get by. ]

Scotch, sure. [ howard waves for the bartender to get erik one, but then he says in a lower tone: ] Decent? [ he makes a face and rocks his hand back and forth. it's good for space, but not good by actual quality standards okay. especially not for a man who bought fifty barrel reserve, minimum. ]

[magneticfields]

[ Erik joins him at the bar, regarding him with an amused expression. His attitude reminds him of his youth. After liberation, encountering men of the world on film strips or in person. The kind he tried to emulate, but never quite got there.

He wonders if this is some kind of act, or if they are traveling through space as well as time.

He's also impeccably dressed, if in an outdated style. That with his comments about the liquor indicate a man of considerable means, even if he is an eccentric one. ]

I think perhaps my standard for "decent" may be a bit lower than yours. [ He nods his thanks to the bartender and sips. ] We'll go with acceptable. So, I take it this is not your first turn on this ... ship?

[speedboat]

[ it can be both, howard stark is a larger than life presence in any dimension. but there is a slightly more subdued personality lurking just under the surface that only a select few are ever privy to. with supposed cameras rolling (though he's never once seen one, admittedly) he wouldn't risk the slip. not in actual public. ]

First? Try fourth. [ he makes a little 'yikes' face before sipping his bourbon down past the ice. ] Someone out there must find me entertaining.

iskaulit.

[rebuildyourruins]

[Honestly, the free food is never something Thor will turn down. At the question though, his reply is less than cheerful.]

The best way I could describe it is lonely and empty. It was a sad place to be.

[Howard should be glad he missed it.]

[speedboat]

Oh. [ he stalls uncertainly, taking a sip of his coffee to stave off having to answer right away. ] Well. Better than cannibals, at least? [ maybe. time to abruptly change the subject!!! ]

How the heck have you been anyway, pal? You miss me?

[rebuildyourruins]

Definitely better than that.

[All the free stuff for the taking was an added bonus.]

Of course. And I've been good, really! My brother's back again, which is always nice. [For certain definitions of 'nice'.] I've been able to stock up on a lot of things on this system too.

[speedboat]

[ aww thor missed him that's cute. he loves that. ] ...What kind of things? [ oh wait there was personal info there he circles back after a moment. he's trying okay!!!! ] I didn't know you had a brother, big guy. Is he as charming as you?

[rebuildyourruins]

Pretty much anything. There were no people around, so you could just take whatever was there.

[As a space viking, Thor had zero issue with raiding the place for his own purposes. That's just sensible.]

Loki? Oh no, totally different in the charm area. Not to say that he isn't.

[speedboat]

How... convenient. [ the paranoia teeming through him can't allow for such a flippant attitude, though he supposes it was a missed opportunity for some of the finer things. he's considerably better at "roughing it" than most would give him credit for. ]

You make it sound bad. Or at least like you're being polite. Come on, have out with it. We all have our flaws. [ a beat and a smile ] Even me.