academyooc | test drive meme

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test drive meme

Test Drive Meme The Pan Pacific Defense Corps was usually offered any of a variety of local buildings to set up their testing centers. For reasons of access and availability, most testing clinics were set up in central areas for any given community. Those of the PPDC staff on hand vary in their personal intensity. Some of the men and women wearing Strike Group insignia seemed overly serious, to the point of frowning with intensity at some of the youngest checking in for this testing round. Those from the K-Science division are tight with nervous energy as they direct prospective cadets through various activities. Everything was meant to measure potential, looking for that spark that meant they had somebody who was Drift Compatible. The majority of people were turned away after the first series of seemingly random tests, officials looking in eyes, placing odd looking contraptions over heads, asking for people to play a series of short games, one even in a virtual reality set-up.

	( SCENARIO ONE ) If you are still here now, you've made it past the first cut. You'll be sat down in a room with the rest who have made it this far, then systematically led into smaller interview rooms as pairs. If you came with a partner, they're your first interview candidate. If you came on your own, all your interviews are random assignment. All who have been asked to stay are required to sit through and conduct a series of short peer to peer interviews. The questions are straightforward. What is your least favorite color? Which tool in a standard toolbox is most useful to you? What time of day do you accomplish the most? Do you have children? What do you believe the Drift is like? Peer to peer interviews last for half an hour to an hour, and each person is asked to participate in at least three peer-to-peer interviews. There is no punishment for going off script. There is a one-way mirror looking into each interview area, and one door leading into the room with a small panel of glass located on the door. There is a clock on the wall in each room. The time they report is odd, when examined. These are not digital clocks, but timers, counting up time since the last Kaiju attack.

	( SCENARIO TWO ) Congratulations! You have been judged Drift Compatible, and sent home to pack after giving a definite yes to the Pan Pacific Defense Corps. The next thing you face down is the flight into Santiago, Chile, and the subsequent drive in to Valparaíso's Shatterdome. You and the rest of the crowd of soon to be PPDC Ranger Cadets have been gathered together to wait for the old bus scheduled to take you to the Shatterdome. While waiting in the open air, those from any Northern Hemisphere countries may find the summer weather strange. Today's high is going to be in the upper 80's, and there's not a cloud to be seen that's not clinging to the distant mountains. Welcome to Chile. When the bus arrives, it's another hour ride out toward the coastline to get to the Shatterdome. Even better? The bus Air Conditioner is broken. Safe travels, Cadets!

Please set up your own scenarios as you like. The above two scenarios are suggestions. Anything goes!

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No, it doesn't. It's only that everything you own does. [ she straightens a pleat on her skirt, a deliberate gesture, careless as if her attention really is fixed on ensuring her skirt falls in perfect lines and not in franziska's reaction to being contradicted ]

[Yuri levered a skeptical eyebrow at her, and then laughed, head tilted back as he finished popping his back. It was an honest, amused laughter. He didn't dislike this girl's style; she certainly didn't sound like she was just putting on bravado. He didn't mind if she was--he was used to that--but all the polite trash talk was making him feel a little competitive.]

I tell you what. If it starts to look like my pace is too much for you, I'll ask to stop--since this isn't about pride. [he flashed her a grin, getting into position next to her. He was looking forward to going all out and seeing if this girl could cash out that confidence]

»» SCENARIO 2

The young man taking his seat on the beaten-up old bus does not, quite honestly, look like someone who's just had his life changed forever by being accepted into an elite force designed to protect and save humanity. He has far too much of the look of someone having an ordinary day. Maybe he's thinking about what's going to be for lunch?

After a minute, though, a frown crosses his peaceful face, and all of a sudden he's getting up from his seat, heedless of the motion of the bus. "No, this is no good. Seriously, everyone's going to overheat. It's not safe." Not safe, he says, while making his way busily up the aisle of a moving bus. "Let me have a look at the air conditioning. I'm a little bit of a mechanic, all right?"

Why else?

[he makes a quick, expressive hand gesture, indicating the whole of the facility. his tone was a casual draw, letting the words carry their own weight]

Can't beat the perks. Hot food, running water, a clean place to sleep. That's not always easy to come by.

[that also wasn't remotely close to the truth, the truth wasn't an option. I killed your father and then I didn't know what to do with myself probably wouldn't go over well with the kid or anyone else, for that matter.

Which reminded him... he needed to keep it together better than this. If just chit-chatting with the kid wound him so tight, it didn't bode well for the future. What if he got partnered with this kid for Pons training? That'd be just his luck, and he couldn't afford to slip up.

He forced himself to relax, waiting for Luke's reply. He'd just treat it like training--master your mind, right?]

Oh...

[Perhaps unsurprisingly, Luke didn't have a lot to say to that, the idea of trying to get to a Shatterdome just because it would be a place to live. It did kind of line up with what he'd hear about 'the other half' since his father's corruption came out, but... Well. This Yuri guy didn't really look like someone who struggled to find food or shelter.

That was probably just his own ignorance again, though. What was he expecting? Him to wander in here in rags?]

I hope I didn't ruin your chances of getting in, then. Sorry... I don't even know what they want from us here, but this probably isn't it.

Careful, your concern is so heartfelt I might cry.

[As a matter of fact, Yuri had made sure to buy new clothes before heading home for the month he'd had to wait for Valparaiso to open. The old lady'd who raised him liked to see him looking well, else wise he wouldn't have bothered.

Luke's chronic unsureness was starting to pass from incensing to downright annoying, so Yuri decided to put him out of his misery]

They don't fail you out of the interviews unless you stab someone or something. It's just meet and greet.

1: INTERVIEW

Whoever's been chosen from the throng to speak with Armin will find their peer sitting straight-backed across from them, interview questions set neatly in his lap, exuding the general aura of someone about to go up on stage. Not a smooth, patient confidence, either—more of the nervous, preemptively embarrassed variety.

Honestly, he'd prefer a stage. Public speaking and even talking to strangers, he can handle. One might even argue he has a natural talent for it, but this sort of casual and personal banter fodder written out before him to use on the person opposite doesn't exactly fall in the category of his forte.

Surprisingly, the unease hardly reaches his face, and he'll mask the little that does with an exchange of pleasantries.

"Hello, my name is Armin," and should the other be so gracious as to return the greeting, "... Would you prefer we each go down the list of questions in its entirety, or should we alternate?"

2: CALISTHENICS

He'd never been under the illusion training would be easy, but while the bustling busywork from dawn to dusk is a routine he can adjust to with grace, one hour in particular is quite predictably making itself out to be the very bane of his existence.

The running.

It's not as if he's inactive, but he's always been partial to books over physical exertion (alright, he's a massive nerd, who in their right minds even let him get this far?). Not that that is any sort of excuse. Here there are standards. Strict standards, ones he clearly doesn't meet—perhaps ones he sets more for himself and far too high to boot—but by god, they are ones he will uphold or die trying.

Which, frankly, he sounds like he's just about to. The oppressive trifecta of sun, heat, and humidity is driving a slump into Armin's shoulders like a wedge into firewood, the splitting sensation in his ribs forcing his breaths out in short, rasping bursts. In spite of this, he presses on, but there's only so far mad determination not to disappoint will get one. And he's not even sure it's the required distance.

To anyone unfortunate enough to be running with him, they'll find him slowing helplessly to a trot, but in spite of ragged gasps and screwed-shut eyes, the spindly young man trudges on. More than half-expecting to be left behind whenever he glances up.

[He blinks, but it's effective, he's obviously somewhat heartened by that.]

Really?

[But then he thinks about that, turning a dubious eye toward the one way glass]

Then why are they watching us?

[Pause...]

And how do you know? No one told me that...

You do know how Drifting works, right? It's their job to watch us. To see if we're compatible.

[He levies a look at Luke, checking for his comprehension. How naive was this guy going to get?]

And I know because this is the second time I've been through them. I transferred from the other academy.

[He seems to get it. Mostly. There's obviously still some confusion and doubt in there, but it's not as if he thinks Yuri is lying. ]

I know what drifting is!

[At least he seems a little offended at that. He'd seen movies. That had to at least get him close. ]

I guess I just didn't think they'd be able to tell if we're compatible from... Just this.

Well... I guess it's enough to show that we're not.

[He wasn't going to get paired with someone who hated him. ...he hadn't thought about that. That was going to be the hardest part. He sighs. Maybe this whole thing was hopeless after all.]

It's a process. Nobody's compatible just like that--not enough people, anyway.

[There were always rumors of miracle cases, but Yuri had never met anyone like that and frankly, as much as he rolled his eyes at all the forced social activities, he agreed with the idea behind them. He'd take the solidity of a partnership built on effort over the glamour and tempestuousness of an instant connection any time.

He was slightly irked to have to be the one explaining this, toying with the idea telling Luke to go re-read his pamphlet literature and handbook. But it took his mind off of things, so he rolled with it.]

That's right. They're not going to lump two people together who don't get along. It's a waste of time.

Edited 2014-01-29 01:32 (UTC)

[Luke hadn't forgotten his situation exactly, even as he felt more comfortable around Yuri. It was just that, as conversations with people who hated him went, this one was pretty easy. If Yuri wasn't going to do more than take the occasional shot at him, he wouldn't look for worse than that. ]

Have you ever tried it? Drifting?

Yeah.*

[He didn't elaborate, and he hoped Luke had the caught on not to probe, though he was making a small bet with himself as to the likelihood of that. He seemed kind of slow.

He didn't mind talking about, it just always seemed kind of useless. The Drift was experienced differently for different people, and there wasn't really a vocabulary for the feeling of it. He'd heard people say it was like trying to describe sex to a virgin and Yuri didn't think it was such a bad comparison. Just like sex, it was shrouded in a lot of romanticized nonsense. You could try to convince someone of what it was really like, but they'd always fantasize.]

*((I COULD BE WRONG ABOUT THIS... just go with it.))

[Yuri seems to be catching on quick with Luke. He doesn't catch The hint, instead brightening nearly bridled curiousity. ]

What's it like?

[It figures. He should have bet himself more than three dollars.

He cocked his head, by all appearances putting some serious thought into it. What he was actually doing was sussing Luke out for a little harmless fun. He was definitely young, unquestionably naive, clumsy with people... It was just a guess, but Yuri was pretty certain he was a virgin. He chose his explanation deliberately.]

Sex.

Mike's eyebrows rose as he watched the guy go from way too bouncy to... He didn't even know what to term this, but it left him bemused. "...Wow. Way to go to extremes," he murmured before clearing his throat and speaking in a more audible voice. "Look, you're kind of jumping to conclusions, here. You go from me saying 'people look at happily violent people with suspicion' to fuming patriotism - not the right word, but the best I've got for now - in about, what, two seconds? What's next, you accuse me of treason because I'm not having a sugar rush on the idea of getting in an extraterrestrial fight?"

[If Yuri was looking for a blush, he gets it. Swift and red, pooling across his cheeks. ]

Oh.

[It also shuts him up. Whether or not that's because he doesn't know anything about sex is hard to say, but he doesn't seem to have further questions. ]

Luke had been too nervous to really look carefully at anyone before he was moved from the waiting room to the small interview room, but as soon as he had seen who else was called with him it was hard to keep a straight face. And, okay, it was impossible for him, he utterly failed. But at least a jaeger pilot was probably used to a certain level of stunned recognition.

"H..Hi. Uh. Holy crap, really..."

Luke's mouth started wandering off before his brain could catch up.

"I mean! Sorry! I-I'm Luke."

Despite the stuttering, Luke was less bashful than startled. He had never exactly given much thought to the pilots that had kept the disaster at Telluride from being even more of one. To him, the pilots were just as hard to realize as the massive robots themselves. Larger than life, unreal, and not someone you just run into. And for all he was trying to get accepted to the Academy, he hadn't really expected to meet anyone but other hopeful wannabes like himself.

It takes him an extra several seconds of staring before he hesitantly goes to shake her hand, even while mostly expecting her to pull it back.

In stark contrast, the kid who slows to a trot beside Armin seems to be in his element. His breathing is deep and even, and he's got the sort of focused expression of someone who gets satisfaction out of athletic pursuits. He's sweating a little, but just a thin sheen, nothing to indicate hard labour so much as a hot and humid surrounding climate. He's up by two laps anyway, since he's been intermittently sprinting just to keep things lively. It won't hurt him to check on a fellow student who looks just about ready to hurl on his running shoes. Might as well distract the guy before he hurts himself.

"Watch out for that snake."

( ONE )

It's too hot.

It's probably the only thing in Leila's mind at the moment and despite looking like the picture of calm and composure with an open book on her lap, she's nothing but. Gaze listless, fingers moving to loosen the ribbon on her blouse, lips pulling to a tight line ... it's a clear sign of distraction and soon, she puts down her book to stare outside. Or more specifically, to stare at the window and figure out how to pry it open.

Perhaps it's just her; everyone else seems to be unconcerned. She's simply not used to this sudden change in climate in less than a day: from cool and mild to sweltering and oppressive. And with the change comes the uncomfortable feeling of her clothes sticking to her skin. Perhaps it's the fact that her window's shut tight, preventing any form of air circulation where she's seated. Or perhaps it's both.

Fighting back a sigh, she struggles to stand in a moving bus to address the easiest one: the window. One hand sets her book down and steadies herself against the seat while the other runs along the dusty edges of the window, in search of a latch. She soon finds it and attempts to slide the window open — only for it to stay stuck. She frowns at it, rather confused.

"... Am I doing it incorre —" The last word gets cut off as the bus lurches, forcing her to stumble back into her seat and bump into her unfortunate seatmate. "Sorry."

( TWO )

Leila's been wandering through the shelves of the library, several books already resting in one arm: several history books, an almanac, an atlas and a French copy of Guibert's Essay on Tactics. Her eyes easily scan the titles on each and every book, fingers brushing the edge of the spines without pause. From an onlookers perspective, she's aimless, not knowing what or which book to pull out and read.

She pulls one out of the shelf, pushes it back in, moves to the next book. Rinse and repeat. After she's done with her seemingly pointless search, she moves to one of the desks in the library and spreads the material she's collected so far, effectively occupying the entire table. Setting up camp, as she would like to call it.

Needing a table? There's one over there in the far corner because really, good luck getting her to move.

"Likewise, Mike." She inclined her head toward him, the grip on his hand firm. She took a step to the side after letting go, pulling out the chair opposite to where he'd been sitting. Her eyes flicked over him, taking in the little details. Whatever impression he made didn't seem to change her outward expression. Her smile remained polite.

"Been through many of these today?" Andrea set the clipboard and questionnaire down on the table, sitting in a smooth motion. She kept her body language loose and comfortable as she invited him into conversation.

He laughed under his breath as he dropped into his chair, posture not exactly perfect but looking comfortable instead of on edge. "Yeah, a couple," he said, smile edging toward amused. "Every time I answer one certain question, it seems like I get the same look, though."

Now it was more than edging toward amused. He could almost laugh aloud at the thought of it, but what could he say? He definitely wasn't a monk.

"How about you? How's your day gone so far?"

Andrea's hand was warm, her grip firm as she shook Luke's hand. Her smile seemed sincere, even as she gave him a speculative look. Something seemed off... Two years ago had a lot of history to fill in, and Luke himself without his family's name wasn't going to ring any firm bells. His reaction told her that he recognized her, little more. Andrea set her feeling to the side, opting to get him settled in and talking before exploring the why of her odd feelings.

Jacqueline would love this. Her co-pilot had a fierce sort of amused love-hate relationship with the fame and lifestyle that clung to all active Rangers, especially after a successful take-down in the field.

"Nice to meet you Luke," she said, inclining her head toward the available folding chairs. "Did you want to take a seat?"

"Sure." Luke responds, automatic, agreeable, before even fully processing her offer. Frankly she could've asked if he'd like to stab himself in the eye and probably gotten the exact same response.

He takes the seat, but doesn't settle, tight with an obvious nervous, anxious energy. He always knew when someone didn't recognize him, in the exact same way he always knew when they did. Not everyone was mean to him, told him off, told him his father got what he deserved, but there was still always that initial look of disgust, distrust that they couldn't quite hide. Luke had gotten good at recognizing it. But not seeing it on Andrea Martin's face was a blessing.

Maybe if he kept just dove right in there wouldn't be a chance for his luck in that department to change.

"What are you doing here?" Abrupt, blurting. He back peddles. "I mean... you're already a pilot. Is this a test?"

Andrea's own lips quirked up in her own amusement. "Ah, let me guess. Father of twelve?" Aiming for the absurd would hopefully provide amusing for both involved parties.

She shrugged, hand settling on top of the clipboard. "I'll consider it a success if I get through the rest of this unscathed. Interviewing's never been my strong point."

Particularly the kinds of interviews they ended up participating in as part of the publicity machine for the PPDC. Andrea was better known for being off screen than on screen, at least for anything not shot at a distance.

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test drive meme

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Re: Andrea Martin | OC | Ranger for Hydra Corinthian

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leila malcal ( code geass )

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