Test Drive

[snowblindmods]

TEST DRIVE MEME

If you'd like to apply to Snowblind and would like to test the waters first or get a sample set up for your application, this meme is for you! We've even provided some prompts for you to use if you want (but feel free to make up your own). Here's how it works. ✭ Reply to this entry with a character you're considering apping into the game. You can include the name of your character and the fandom in your subject line. ✭ Comment around to others on the meme, whether you're in the game already or not. ✭ Now you have a sample ready for your application! ✭ So go reserve and apply when reservations and applications are open. ✭ Seriously, do it. Network Prompts ONE: SEE THAT WE CAN SEE It's late and you're settling down for the night when you notice a strange light coming from... outside? Through the heavy snowfall, you can just make out the haze of glowing eyes in the distance. Dozens of them. It's difficult to tell through the window, but they seem to be staring directly at you. Since it's after lockdown, you can't get outside to investigate, but maybe others in town are seeing the eyes too. You'd better take to the Network to see what's going on. TWO: BEHIND THESE HAZEL EYES You can't sleep. You've been trying, trying, trying. But every time you close your eyes, you see the eyes of the prophet etched into the insides of your eyelids. The symbol only seems to get brighter and clearer the longer you keep your eyes shut, the closer you get to drifting off. It chills you awake. Nothing seems to help. Maybe there are others on the Network who are having the same problem. Or, at least, someone who doesn't mind keeping you company through the long hours. Action Prompts THREE: THREE'S A CROWD You and your traveling companion are exploring what looks to be a perfectly normal building when you notice something strange carved into the wall. Is that an eye? Strange indeed, but what's stranger is that new carvings keep appearing, always where you're not looking. Soon, the whole room is full of eye carvings. Is your companion doing this? If not them, then who? FOUR: THE KNIFE'S EDGE Most everyone in town still has eyes that are either glowing or shaped like the prophet's symbol, and your eyes are no different. These are the same eyes that made everyone attack each other a few nights ago. Every time you catch a glimpse of yourself, maybe in the reflection of a window or the video feed on your tablet, you feel a little sick. Unfortunately, your traveling companion's eyes look strange too, and they're the opposite of yours. Both of you are in danger if those murderous urges come back, which makes it difficult to trust each other after what you've been through. It's late at night when a dark thought crosses your mind--you do have a knife. Not that there's any reason to use it, of course... Right?

Comments

[advanced]

I don't know. Try it?

[If Steve ends up disconnected from him, maybe that's for the best.]

[fiteme]

[Notepad, messaging, and camera (and then photos) open all at the same time... hmm. Well, he might as well give it a shot.

A minute of fiddling, and he's got it.]

Turns out you can. Pretty weird taking a picture of myself, though.

[advanced]

[He hesitates a long time, unsure what to say to that. It's not a direct question so he has nothing to answer, and he's still not good at casual conversation. Even less good at casual conversation with someone that he's deliberately hiding from.

Does he say something about the tablets? About the possible work of art?

In the end, the moment stretches too long and it becomes awkward, in the end he doesn't reply at all. He just remains on the line, waiting for Steve to start drawing.

It's not weird to have a silent art stalker, right?]

[fiteme]

[It is weird, actually, but since Steve's already started drawing, it's not too big a deal. It's not like he wants to keep chatting while he's working anyway.

He draws for about fifteen minutes before he makes himself stop. He knows he's never going to be satisfied with it, so he sends it through the chat.]

There. Not very good, but it'd take at least a day's work to really be acceptable. It's a start, though.

[Honestly? It's a pretty good likeness. It's clear it's a sketch, and it's obvious with the way it's drawn that the artist doesn't think much of his own appearance, but Steve's captured himself well enough.

And even though it's a sketch, even a stranger would be able to see the sadness and loneliness that's hiding in his eyes, if they looked long enough. Someone who knew him well? They'd see it right away.]

[advanced]

[He doesn't know Steve as well as he'd like to. He doesn't know how much of what he knows is real, and how much of it is suggestion brought on from all the research he's done into Captain America and the lives of both Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes back when he had been a complete person.

Yet somehow he sees the loneliness.

It bothers him enough that he closes out of the screen pretty quickly, and (stupidly) asks an immediate question.]

Are you near anyone you can travel with?

[fiteme]

[Of course, Steve being the oblivious idiot that he is, he has no idea what he's exposed in his drawing. He was just putting down what he saw and felt, even if he doesn't understand or realize what that is.]

Not that I know of, why?

[advanced]

[He can't say 'because you look lonely'. Think fast.]

Other subjects for your art.

[fiteme]

That was kind of the point of the video. No way anyone can get over here now.

[Now he knows there's a reason the guy opened with text instead of responding with a video, but he can't help but ask.]

Don't suppose you'd be willing to model, since you're so eager for me to have new subjects.

[advanced]

[Well... this has backfired spectacularly. Good job, Bucky.]

No.

It was a question, not an offer, not eager.

[fiteme]

[It's not polite to press, Rogers, get those questions out of your head.]

Alright.

Is your name actually Robert?

[advanced]

[He reacts entirely on instinct.

Panic floods him and he hits the button to end the call, hanging up abruptly, which is pretty much a big red flag that the answer is no. He should have stayed on the line and lied, but it's too late now.

And now Steve has this username.]

[fiteme]

[Huh.

Well that sure ain't suspicious in the slightest.

Steve's definitely going to be keeping an eye on this guy.]

[fiteme]

[Aaaaand this is Steve calling back, so to speak, since he's not sure what the term is when you're just typing.]

Okay so your name isn't Robert. It doesn't have to be a big deal.

And hanging up on a person is rude, I don't care what year it is or how you're conversing.

[advanced]

[Of course Steve calls him back to lecture him on manners, of all things. His heart is still thudding a mile a minute, frightened of being found out.]

Fine. Sorry. Bye.

[And hanging up again.]

[fiteme]

[OH MY GOD SIR YOU ARE RILING STEVE RIGHT UP

HE IS GOING TO CALL YOU RIGHT BACK]

Okay what the hell is your problem? You got a problem with me?

[advanced]

[STOP CALLING HIM BACK, HE JUST WANTS TO RUN AWAY AND HIDE IN PEACE!!!]

No.

Stop calling me back.

[fiteme]

[YOU ARE ACTING VERY SUSPICIOUS AND ARE UPSETTING STEVE AND HE DOESNT LEAVE THINGS THAT UPSET HIM ALONE]

If you don't have a problem with me then why do you keep hanging up? Tell me and maybe I'll stop calling.

[Maybe.]

[advanced]

Because the conversation is done.

[Why else would someone hang up on someone? Certainly not for any suspicious reasons.]

[fiteme]

Didn't seem like it to me. Why do you keep running?

[And then a thought hits him, wonderful and terrible.]

Is that you, Buck?

[advanced]

[See, what he should do is say no. He should be calm and collected and refute the claim. He should say he has never heard of 'Buck'.

But that nickname, so unique to Steve (and now to John), tugs at something inside him and pushes the panic higher, so he doesn't do that. What he does instead, to nobody's surprise, is hang up. Again.

Which is almost as good as a confirmation.]

[fiteme]

[Well. That would explain a lot.

Doesn't explain why Bucky's been avoiding him, and why he's still running.

The revelation that Bucky definitely IS here and that he's been hiding from Steve is enough to stun Steve for a while, and for a few hours, he doesn't try to call back.

But a few hours pass, and Steve takes a breath and actually calls the person he knows is Bucky. Enough text bullshit. They need to talk, and Steve isn't backdown until they do.]

Bucky? Please, Buck, talk to me.

[advanced]

[He's spent the past few hours kicking himself for reacting that way, and he knows there'll be no point denying it when Steve does eventually call him back. Because he will.

He at least makes sure the conversation is on private before he replies, voice level and low.]

Leave me alone.

[fiteme]

[Yeah, that's Bucky's voice, if a bit gruffer than he remembers, but it still hits Steve like a punch to the gut.

So does his demand to leave him alone.]

I can't do that, Buck, you know that. [He swallows hard, his throat feeling stuffed up and dry.] Why... why've you been avoiding me, Buck?

[advanced]

[He hates this.

This is the third time he's had to fight against Steve finding him, he's so tired. This is the worst, at least when Steve was here before then he knew what Bucky had become, this Steve... he has no idea. He still thinks Bucky Barnes is his best friend, the smiling soldier who had managed to be a good man almost effortlessly.

He scrubs a hand over his face, not that Steve can see it, and sighs.]

I'm not who you think I am, it's better for us both if you leave me alone.

[fiteme]

You're Bucky. That's all that matters.

[He's never been more certain of anything in his life. No matter what's happened to Bucky, he's still Bucky.]

I really don't give a damn what's better if it means I gotta pretend you're not around, that everything's okay. I don't... I don't know what's happened, but I wanna help, Buck. Please.