Disorient Express Test Drive Meme

[thedirectors]

Episode 1: The Disorient Express

Test Drive Meme

Welcome to Grief Street! Won't you come and see what awaits you in our game? We've provided a few prompts below so you can brainstorm AU ideas and voice test your character in the setting. Don't feel beholden to anything--this is the space to experiment and see what works and what doesn't, so be bold! If you have any questions, ask below!

i. meet & greet

So, you've ended up on the Disorient Express. Maybe you've got a few connections that snagged you a first-class ticket, maybe this was merely a business expense and you're traveling second class, or maybe you even smuggled on board the train and are hiding out in the luggage car. Do you happen to know why you're traveling, madame or monsieur?

Whatever the case may be, you're now stuck on this train with the other passengers for the next four days. It would be good to meet with the other passengers on board, since you'll be seeing each other so often. Are they strangers? Old friends? Enemies? Whatever their relationship to you, perhaps you'll learn a few new interesting tidbits about their lives.

If you want a place to chat, why not enjoy a conversation in the dining car, where you can feast upon all manner of delicacies? Looks like the menu today--and every day--is oysters, soup with Italian pasta, turbot with green sauce, chicken 'à la chasseur', fillet of beef with 'château' potatoes, 'chaud-froid' of game animals, lettuce, chocolate pudding, and a buffet of desserts. Or, if you're not that hungry, you can make your way to the lounge/bar car to enjoy an alcoholic beverage or two. Those more interested in simply brooding or hanging around can walk to the caboose, where you can look out upon the train tracks and think about the journey ahead....

ii. another day of luxury

The train's staff provides all manner of luxury to its guests. Those in first class cabins receive complimentary champagne when you first step on board, and the next morning, both first and second class passengers wake to a concierge knocking at their door with a basket of decadent Parisian pastries and a pot of freshly brewed tea. Your every need is tended to, and the staff are more than willing to accommodate you. Maybe being stuck on this train for four days isn't so bad, after all.

It seems like someone had the bright idea of setting up a few games in the lounge. Looks like a gaggle of people have set up a makeshift poker table, gossiping among each other about what they've learned about the other passengers aboard the train. A few others are enjoying a round of drinks and something called "truth or drink"--a twist on the classic "truth or dare". A third table is playing two truths and a lie. Boisterous laughter and shouting fills the car. The bartender smiles towards you, wiping down the table and tending to the passengers. What'll you be having, then?

iii. murder in the night

First, the train gets stuck in a snowdrift, delaying your trip. Next, the conductor tells you that one of your fellow guests was murdered! Worse still, he believes that someone on board this train was responsible for the man's death. If they don't find out who did it, well...they'll need to bring everyone in for questioning at the next station.

Do you know who to trust? Perhaps you ought to do a little bit of investigation, yourself, lest you be suspected as the culprit. It wouldn't hurt to try and question people on what sort of secrets they're hiding, either...after all, who knows? Maybe they have a bigger stake in this murder than you think.

iv. optional info blurb

We've provided an optional blurb you can add to your toplevels with information about your character in the AU. Delete/add fields as you see fit, use it however you want!

<b>Character Name:</b> Self-explanatory. <b>Occupation:</b> Describe what they do for a living! <b>About:</b> Write a few sentences about your character's AU. Don't feel obligated to stick to this! It's a voice testing post, after all. <b>Looking For:</b> Are you looking for any pre-planned relationships? Family, friends, enemies, rivals, etc?

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nick verghese | oc

[verghese]

Character Name: Nick Verghese
Occupation: (Former) private investigator
About: A surly, disgraced private eye from America. Several years ago, he was involved in a high-profile case that resulted in the wrongful arrest of an innocent man. Once the police seemingly arrested the 'right' culprit, Nick was mocked and shamed by the media. This caused him to quit his job and leave for Europe. He's been trying to find a job ever since. He's still reeling from a recent job rejection.
Looking For: Rivals, enemies, or friends. Most people would also probably recognize his name from the newspapers.

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i. train time
[Nick had only been able to get onto this train by a friend-of-a-friend connection. He sure as hell didn't have the money to afford this kind of transportation--but he had to admit that it wasn't half bad. He'd arrived in his second-class cabin, put away his meager luggage, then straightened out his shabby trench coat and walked towards the bar.

His shabby dress certainly makes him look a little bit out of place among the other, more refined passengers. The haphazard tie and dress shirt are passable enough to be formal wear, at least. He scratches at the stubble on his chin, frowning lightly at the neat, calligraphy menu, then slides on up to a bar stool. He leans against the counter, his elbow propped up against the surface and rests his chin on his hand.]

Just a gin and tonic, please.

[The bartender nods, turning towards the shelves and fetching the appropriate bottles. Nick rubs his face, then turns idly towards the person next to him.]

So, where are you going after we get to Paris?

ii. truth or drink (cw: alcohol)
[Looks like someone's getting way into truth or drink, because accusations are flying back and forth about the veracity of some people's stories.]

I'm sorry, run that story by me again one more time? [He shoves his arm forward in an accusatory manner, some of his drink spilling onto the carpet.] There's no goddamn way that's the truth!

iii. murder most foul
[Dead. Dead. As if this trip couldn't get any worse. He runs his hands through his hair, pacing back and forth in front of the scene of the crime--a cabin, just a few short steps away from his.]

Shit.

[He mutters under his breath, smoothing out his coat and fidgeting with his hands. His breath is quick and shallow as he tries to calm himself.]

No. No. I am not fucking qualified to deal with this bullshit, Jesus Christ. I'm leaving that shit behind, you hear me?

[He doesn't seem to notice anyone in front of him, and might...just...inadvertently bump into you.]

iv. wildcard
[Got another idea? Plot with me @ wolfnoir!]

II

[intulpable]

[Coop has yet to lose a round, and is still stone sober. he takes a hankie from his pocket and kneels to mop up the drink that Nick has spilled, still smiling. it might be just a little infuriating, it might be endearing. people's mileage seems to vary.]

Of course. Would you like me to start from the beginning, or should I just go from the part where I got picked up by the van full of hippies?

[verghese]

[Good lord, this guy is ridiculous. Nick presses his free hand to his face, twisting his mouth to the side.]

Man, come on, you can't get me to sincerely believe that they just happened to be there. And, on top of that, that they'd pick you up. I mean, no offense, but you look like you've never smoked weed in your life.

[No offense!]

iii;

[shuken]

[ Gaius, as a prominent member of a prestigious family from another country, has expected some bumps in even what appeared to be at first a scenic and relatively comfortable train ride. To say that 'murder most foul' happens to be one of those bumps is ... well, not exactly something he has ruled out to end up coming face to face with, but hey. He doesn't even know that he is to encounter that just yet. ]

And what, exactly, are you leaving behind?

[ The former private investigator may have perhaps bumped into a sturdy, tall, and dark-haired man whose appearance seems to scream important authority. Not without reason, given the fact he mostly spends his time in first-class, and his normal attire is indicative of such a thing. ]

[verghese]

[He stumbles back, trying to straighten out his coat and shirt. Ah, shit. It's this guy. Nick is inherently a little wary of anyone coming from the first class coaches--mostly on account of the people he's encountered thus far looking down upon him.]

Sorry, shit--I mean, uh, this.

[He says with a slightly indignant tone, gesturing to the cabin behind him. As if it explains the situation any more.]

I'm retired, you know. I'm not going to go off solving any murder mystery just cus a dead body shows up at my feet.

[shuken]

[ It is hard not to notice that he seems to have startled the other man—what with him stumbling back as he does—but it is what it is, as far as he's concerned. Gaius has a tendency to do that with the kind of presence he has, for better or worse. ]

So, you are stating that you found a dead body and ... what was your next plan of action regarding that, if you had no intention of solving it? Bringing it to the attention of those in charge of the train?

[ Gaius presses, though he does not step forward into the cabin himself. It would not do to contaminate the crime scene. Ideally, if any reporting is going to occur, someone should stick with the body...assuming the man in front of him is not complicit in such a thing. Time is of the essence, regardless, and his eyes flicker across the general area; there are usually attendants around at this time of day. If one is nearby, they can also simply flag one down... ]

[verghese]

[Nick raises an eyebrow. Is this man softly accusing him of killing this man? Sounds like it. Maybe he's just being a bit paranoid, but his previous experience with murder investigations have rarely led to good things. At least, on his behalf.]

Yeah--yeah, ask the conductor to deal with it. Good idea--

[And then he stops. His instincts tells him it would be bad to just flee the scene. It would give whoever is responsible the opportunity to tamper with the scene and perhaps implicate him.]

You think we could flag someone down, instead? What if the killer comes back to try and clean up?

[shuken]

[ Gaius is naming him as a possible suspect indeed, because he simply thinks it prudent to consider all options, as cold as that is. But he is not exactly a warm man at all—the opposite, in fact.

At least when Nick stops himself short, Gaius does wait for him to say what else is clearly on his mind. If there is something that he is, it's patient. In some instances, anyway. ]

That would be wise. It shouldn't be too difficult, though it will require us to wait in this area for some time. So, you should be prepared for that.

[ For various reasons it would be unwise for either to have the other just leave the room to flag down staff. This is the most prudent course of action, as far as Gaius is concerned. ]