test drive!

[these_balls]

TEST DRIVE MEME


➞ Post with a character you wish to test drive in this game's setting.
➞ Tag other people's starters and thread out shenanigans!
➞ Invite your friends! Try out new characters! Come play with us!
➞ Have fun!


NOT SURE WHERE TO BEGIN YOUR TEST-DRIVE JOURNEY?
CHECK OUT ALL THE LOCATIONS WE HAVE AVAILABLE IN:

JOHTO | and | KANTO

✭ ✭ ✭


As usual, we've created a Google Doc so you can submit your wanted characters for a big Route game ad on this month's ATP!
FIND IT HERE
CUTOFF FOR ADDING CHARACTER WANT ADS TO THE GDOC IS:
6:00 PM, EST, ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH!

Comments

HI DIN!!

[mcgill]

[That's actually the shitty thing about cars not really existing here.

Also: All that walking. It's so hard on his already-bad knees. The kids playing he doesn't mind so much — it's kinda nice, seeing them so carefree and unconcerned about things like kidnappers and whatnot — but damn if he doesn't wish they'd be more careful anyway.

He's not a kidnapper or a whatnot, but he knows there are people in this world who have much shorter tempers than he does. And luckily, his isn't set off; she just knocks him a few inches back. He's still on his feet, though, and that's the important thing.]

Whoa, whoa — hey, easy.

[walkersystem]

<sub>[She hesitates for a moment, watching him in that uncertain way some kids have where they're not sure whether they'll be excused or get a stern talking to. Her Furret has stopped running and is perched on the other end of the street watching them, not sure when the game will continue.]

[Molly pays him no mind, but is quick to apologise again. In part because she is sorry, but also because she knows that if you show you regret something enough, adults will usually be pretty pacified.]</sub>

I didn't hurt you or anything, right? I'm sorry. I'll watch out next time. I promise.

[mcgill]

[The Furret will find that she soon has company in the form of Jimmy's Eevee, who's padding her way over with her ears curiously perked.

Jimmy, meanwhile, just looks confused.]

Kid, you weigh like, what, 40 pounds soaking wet?

[...is that how much kids usually weigh? He has no idea. It sounds like it might be right.]

Don't worry, I'm fine. Are you okay?

[walkersystem]

<sub>[... oh, friend! A friend. The furret - Scott - immediately perks his ears right back and stretches his long body out to sniff the Eevee in greeting.]

[Molly meanwhile is pretty sure she does not weigh 40 pounds. But that's not the point either.]</sub>

Yeah, I'm okay. It was just a bump. It's not like you're made of rock or anything.

_{[You know, in case you didn't notice. She's not really that nervous about injuries, it's just that sometimes adults are really huffy about how you don't show respect.]}

[mcgill]

[Mai is a cautious one when it comes to other pokémon, so she inches back when Scott moves closer, keeping what seems to be a safe distance.

Jimmy still hasn't noticed the interaction.

After Molly speaks, he gasps and grabs his torso.]

I'm not?! You mean the curse was finally lifted?

[walkersystem]

<sub>[... oh my god. It's the rare kind: the adult with IMAGINATION. Molly immediately rolls with this development, delighted by it but keeping a straight face when she nods very seriously.]

[He can probably see her eyes are basically sparkling, though.]</sub>

It must've been when you came down this road. There's a witch who protects it but only this one.

So you'll be rock again when you leave.

<sub>[It's a grim, grim world out here, Jimmy.]

[Scott respectfully shrinks back from Mai, but keeps his attention centered on her, excited still, whole body wagging a little. If Molly's busy playing with this strange man, maybe he can play with Mai instead?]</sub>

[mcgill]

[Well.

Now he's going to have to roll with it, too. He's quick to look around, all suspicion and hope, before he glances back at her with a slight frown.]

Wait, you mean only this road? This road specifically?

[Mai tilts her head. Why is Scott shaking like that? IS HE SICK? SHOULD SHE DO SOMETHING? Okay, fine; she'll investigate. Just in case.

She approaches slowly, moving in for a sniff.]

[walkersystem]

_{[Another very serious nod follows.]}

Uh huh.

Everywhere else is someone else's territory. A bad guy's. So you have to look out cause if he catches you he'll only make it worse.


_{[Yes!! FRIEND. Scott bumps noses with her and licks gently at the top of her head, cause overbearing behaviour is totally acceptable when someon else made an approaching move.]}

[mcgill]

Great.

[That's definitely sarcasm.]

Good thing this is a long street, huh?

[She's... probably going somewhere with this, isn't she? He's made a mistake. Now she's — is this — are they — playing?

God.]

What's this bad guy look like? Are we talkin' your stereotypical bad guy, or...?

[And then Scott gets an Eevee paw to the face. EXCUSE YOU, MAN.]

[walkersystem]

<sub>[... SORRY, MAI. SORRY? So sorry. Please don't hit him again. Sorry. He curls up in an apologetic stripey ball, giving her puppy dog eyes. Puppy ferret eyes. Either way.]

[Molly meanwhile gives Jimmy a long look and then dramatically looks around them before she steps closer to him with a stage whisper.]</sub>

He looks like what you're most afraid of in the world. And he can see into your soul, so he knows what it is.

[mcgill]

[Mai will forgive you, Scott, but only because you look so upset.

Her ears fold back, almost apologetically. Almost.

And then there's Jimmy, who looks legitimately alarmed. So that means this guy looks like Nacho? Great.

Good thing this is just pretend, ha ha ha.]

Jeez. There's a workaround, though, right? Some way to avoid him? There always is.

[walkersystem]

_{[After having done sufficient amount of ball time (by his own calculation), Scott carefully unfolds himself and tries to go for the nose bump again this time. Just. Carefully. Slowly. Having learned.]}


Yeah ... but it's a secret.

_{[Molly boldly reaches to tug at one of his sleeves, to make him move towards the alley she just came bolting out of it. This is for dramatic appeal.]}

I can't tell you if he can see us. Then he'll eat our brains so we can't think ever again.

[mcgill]

[She'll allow it. But then she kind of just stares at him. What now??]

I'm good at keeping secrets. It's kinda what I do for a living.

[And he allows Molly to lead him toward the alley. This is amusingly familiar — it's definitely how he prefers to do business. In the shadows, in secret, with the threat of a possible awful death lurking nearby.]

[walkersystem]

_{[.... then play? He carefully butts noses with her again and then withdraws to run a small circle around her, sitting down expectantly in front of her after.]}

Good. You need to keep it quiet, cause if everybody knows, then maybe he'll start killing all of us.

_{[She throws herself a little too easily into the role for a number of reasons, really. On the way to the shadows she picks up her backpack, which she'd kinda thrown aside for the quick little chase with her pokémon, and hugs it close to herself as she turns to watch Jimmy very seriously when they're out of the sun.]}

You can't tell anyone unless they really really need to know. Okay?

[mcgill]

[Is she... supposed to do the same thing?? w hat????

Jimmy goes from Okay with the situation to a little disturbed. Shit got real real fast — why are people dying? When did that become a thing?]

Okay, okay. I'll even — here. [He holds out his hand, pinky extended.] Pinky swear.

[walkersystem]

<sub>[Yes. Watch Scott do another little shake and then do another small lap around her. Pls.]


[Molly is impressed by this initiative and sets her backpack to the ground again before she stands, very straight, kind of ominous, and ceremoniously extends her own hand to him to lock pinkies.]</sub>

Cross my heart and hope to die, _{[she recites (again with the death?) and then picks up her backpack again and sits down on a crate nearby to rifle through it.]}

[mcgill]

[This time, Mai follows him, treading a slow path around. Is that what he wants?

And Jimmy, who seems to have forgotten he even has a pokémon, remains totally focused on Molly. He nods, solemn, then watches her as she goes through her bag.

What could she possibly be looking for? The thought occurs to him that she might have been serious, but then he remembers: He's in a coma. Even if she were serious about a bad guy, whatever! Who cares! He's already in a coma! It's fine. Everything is fine.]