metamods: (Default)
meta moderators ([personal profile] metamods) wrote in [community profile] metamemes2022-03-04 04:33 pm
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TEST DRIVE MEME #02




TEST DRIVE MEME
Welcome to [community profile] metaheroes! As the game is invite-only, please bear in mind that new players must have an invitation from a current player to apply. Interested players who do not know anyone in the game can reach out to the mod team HERE to request an invite for the March app round. These invitations will be processed the day before reserves open. However, no invitation is necessary to play on the this test drive.

Threads from this post can be made game canon if players agree upon it. To facilitate this, this log has no new arrival prompt. Please see the PREVIOUS CONFLUENCES for general ideas as to how characters may have arrived. New characters will be arriving with the March 27th arrival log.

For players who do not want to thread out an arrival, they may backdate their characters' arrival to a previous Confluence. These characters were not picked up by the transportation spell used by the Alliance. These characters will have been living on their own for the last few months, so please address this in the 'Brainstorming' section of the application.


01. METASTRAVAGANZA — everywhere.
Things haven't been the same since Confluences started again. The last two months have been more exciting than the last twenty years! The skies are full of new heroes, the day is saved and threatened by unfamiliar faces, the media is having a field day trying to report on every single new face while companies try to snag them for brand deals.

But not everything in this world centers around costumed combat. Today is a perfectly normal day and you're tasked with the most dangerous mission of all - leading an every day life. Maybe you go to a perfectly normal job to maintain your secret identity - or maybe you've already abandoned that, living full time as your metahuman self.

The sun is shining, and even in the early hours of the morning, parties in the DOWNTOWN STREETS of those CITIES STRUCK BY THE RECENT CONFLUENCES are disrupting the reconstruction efforts that have gotten well underway. These parties celebrate meta efforts to save the day! The streets are full of booths selling food and hastily made knock-off toys of the newest heroes who haven't yet put a copyright on their costume.

But not everyone looks so thrilled about this celebration. Many people look disgusted at this celebration of metahumans interrupting their commute to work, muttering under their breath about what a pain in the ass metahumans are and how much destruction they've wrought in these few short months.

Meanwhile, school-aged metas board the bus to LOFTY HEIGHTS META SCHOOL, hidden somewhere in the sky. There, in-between learning about grammar and punctuation, they are trained to use their new abilities ... Notably, when powers training arrives, the new arrivals outshine the metas native to this world. Very few seem to have any powers on par with the new comers.

Later in the day, the Student Council holds an assembly dedicated to the responsible use of powers. They award any students who have helped save the day with accolades — as well as detention for skipping class to help out as an unlicensed hero. Whoops!

Maybe you should just skip today.


02. SEEDY UNDERBELLY — central city.
Central City is a hard place to live. The city is in almost constant peril, with constant power vacuums in organized crime and city government being filled by worse and worse people. Despite having the Guardian Alliance stationed at its center and doing their best to uplift the people and their citizens, the city suffers from a corruption so deep that it seems to be baked into the very concrete.

The Alliance does what it can to make the city a better place but it's a bandaid over a bigger wound. Because the nigh constant metahuman-centered destruction is the source of so many of Central City's problems - meta organizations are often the last resort for its people. Still, the Alliance makes sure to keep heroes on hand to punch muggers as well as run soup kitchens. Their healers provide healing free of charge, and many of their psychics are trained therapists who use their powers to soothe the citizens' many traumas.

But the real power in the city is held by people like FRANK KAFKA, a crime lord with a finger in every pie. Both guilds leave Kafka to his own devices because he officially possesses no metahuman abilities and he avoids any dealings with them. Tonight, his goons are running their favorite extortion scheme with a twist. A group of them marches through a run-down street, shaking down vulnerable families and businesses for protection money. If an individual resists, the gang threatens to bring the spectre of newly created metahumans down upon their head. Though Kafka himself is not present, his goons will give up his location under enough pressure.


03. NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM — excelsior.
With how often the city is destroyed, one wouldn't expect the MUSEUM OF EXCELSIOR to get much in the way of priceless artifacts, but the museum's basement vault is one of the most well guarded facilities in all the country. Practically impenetrable, it stores every conceivable relic of value. But today, thanks to some villainous meddling, there's a lapse in their security that aligns perfectly with the planned time for the changeover of an art exhibit, affording some enterprising thieves a chance at millions of dollars in priceless artwork.

Heroes affiliated with the Guardian Alliance are asked to patrol and keep these relics safe, while the members of the Society of Villainous Reformation are called upon to pay favors forward by getting in their way. As the untested new kids on the block, player characters draw the short straw and are sent in pairs to complete their task, regardless of whether it's to steal these artifacts or guard them.

Villains, now's the chance to get rich quick! Heroes, protect these treasures from falling into the wrong hands!


04. DINOTOPIA — excelsior.
Confluences are back.

And that means new unaffiliated supervillains are running rampant in the streets, causing the kind of directionless, clumsy chaos that the Guild typically frowns at. A little mischief is good if it serves as distraction for a heist, but this is...

Well...

This a very large velociraptor with human arms standing in the middle of Excelsior. If anyone asks, he calls himself DINO DAN. But why would you ask when he's busy transforming people into dinosaurs - or partially into dinosaurs - using his aptly named Dino-Ray? The people of Excelsior are used to a lot of chaotic shenanigans, but this is a little much even for them. The newly transformed dinosaur-people are losing themselves to their instincts and charging at bystanders. Of those that retain (or regain) their senses, some appear strangely delighted to have this new experience, while others wail in horror at their lost humanity.

As heroes line up to stop him, he'll tell anyone who listens about his displaced rage and the revenge he seeks on an unfair world that let him turn himself into a dinosaur. Not surprising, out of an Excelsior local. However, confronted by metas who can stop him, Dino Dan hooks the Dino-Ray on his belt and grabs a second ray-gun. Anyone he shoots with this one disappears with a comical POP!

Those unfortunate enough to be hit by this ray will find themselves standing in a land before time, right beside a research station. Those clever enough to pull out their cell phones will notice that they still have reception, and rule out time travel.

In addition to clippings of ancient and extinct plants, characters who venture inside will find a half dozen prehistoric humans have apparently been displaced through time and held captive in Dino Dan's remote island research station. If that wasn't obvious enough, his research notes suggest the use of time travel — though like all other dimensional travel, it stopped working in January.

Characters may trigger a trap in the research station and find themselves also temporarily transformed into reptiles, or they may take it upon themselves to rescue the poor folks this mesozoic maniac has been holding hostage! Whatever the plan: if he's causing havoc in the city, that has to mean there's there's a teleporter in his lab to get back. But there's no shortage of Guard T-Rexes blocking the path.
interloping: (002)

[personal profile] interloping 2022-03-27 04:52 am (UTC)(link)
Do I.

[ Which means: absolutely yes. There are few things that can bring a man joy in this life, but a slice of pie a la mode is one of them. ]

Okay, okay, duly noted. [That gets a thumbs up. ] I might have to stock up on a few ingredients while I've got the GA at my beck and call. You've suddenly got me inspired to bake some cookies.
dissemblance: (pic#15035368)

[personal profile] dissemblance 2022-03-28 05:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh?

she kept the various parts of her life siloed for a reason — clint knew enough of her, and in many ways she had no desire to deepen his understanding of the widow's world. but given how everything went down on vormir, and yelena's own nature — clint's tendency to dramatize and mire himself in guilt... a half-dozen possibilities of what that single statement could be hiding flash through her mind, and her jaw juts thoughtfully off to one side.

How'd that go?
expositus: (jj15583532)

sorry this is so late!

[personal profile] expositus 2022-03-29 03:46 am (UTC)(link)
I'm good.

[ and frankly she's relieved that she won't have to worry about yelena getting down, too, or even be concerned about how she'll handle the assignment they've been given. this could be going a lot worse as far as she knows these situations can go.

jessica comes to stand just beside yelena, still slightly behind her so she can watch her go down. since she's got the tools to get in and down safely and (presumably) quietly, she figures it's probably for the best for her to make a less conspicuous entrance than jess knows hers will end up being. ]


You'd better go first.
moonday: (pic#15593323)

jeremiah "rem" barks | setting oc

[personal profile] moonday 2022-03-31 03:38 am (UTC)(link)
dinotopia.

[ Really, anyone with half a brain should know to stay the fuck away from Excelsior. The stories that permeated the halls of Sunset Falls described it as an amoral hellhole - which was really saying something, when they lived on top of an actual hellhole. Jeremiah had intended for this to be a quick pitstop. What could go wrong? He was only stopping in here long enough to get gas and food.

Then he's stepping out of the convivence store to screaming, and there in the center of town, is a man turning everyone into dinosaurs. and seeing some guy transforming everyone into dinosaurs. ]


Oh shit - [ is all he manages to say before the dinoman turns his attention to him. he flings the bag of chips and soda at the monsters head, turning to run, but it's not fast enough. he screws his eyes shut and braces himself for death, or to have his brain shrunk to the size of a pea -

opens them to wet, tropical heat. a pterodactyl shrieks in the distance. either time travel is afoot (unlikely, given what's all over the news) or this was a bad time to leave his passport at home.

something rustles in the grass behind him and he jumps, bringing his hands up in a strangely claw-like way. only to relax when he sees its another human, not a dinosaur-man hungry for a snack.

speaking of snacks, his stomach gives an awkward rumble he slowly lowers his hands and rubs the back of his neck. ]


... Stupid question, but you got food on you? Lost my dinner whiffing it at his head.

WILDCARD.

[ Sunset Falls is, frankly, kind of a shit place to live. Though it's by far and above one of the most affordable places anyone could live, that's probably only because someone has died in every room of every house. It's kind of a given that you don't go out at night, you don't walk alone, and you steer clear of the seedy bar downtown - and not for the reasons that you normally do any of those things. The town is full of monsters and while most of them are friendly, the ones that aren't really aren't.

But its home to all the weirdoes that don't really fit in anywhere else. It's hard not to like it.

Wildheart Tattoos may have the worst name and logo you ever did see, but it's a great place to chill out. If you want a tattoo - well, don't talk to Rem. He's been apprenticing for a while but he's yet to actually put ink to skin. He is, however, an excellent administrator. Come on in and he'll slide you a drink, opening up the book without a word and...

shutter the blinds as police sirens start going off and the tell tale signs of something going down. Chances are you're in here because someone told you to shelter in place. ]


Got an exit out the back. [ he offers. ] Wouldn't go out it until things calm down, though.
Edited 2022-03-31 03:40 (UTC)
tinglesense: (for reals?)

wildcard

[personal profile] tinglesense 2022-04-02 07:02 am (UTC)(link)
[ Peter isn't a fan of Sunset Falls at all. It's not really personal, it's just, this is where that creepy ass haunted house thing is, and it's got less of the normal city vibe? He feels like he's always on alert here and it makes it hard to just chill out. He only came here to see Dr. Strange anyway, so of course some bullshit had to happen. Of course it did!

He ducks into the tattoo place kind of on accident. He's not really the tattoo type (and he's not even sure he could get one without it just healing out? Either way!), but it seemed like an easy place to duck into.

He's just Peter, not Spider-Man right now, which means that even when the sirens come, he…has to act like he's just some guy. There's not exactly an easy way to turn Spidey when he's in a little shop like this.
]

Oh, uh…thanks. You think it's something serious out there and not just, I dunno. Routine police chase?

[ He has the worst sense of humour, whoops. ]
eyefire: (watchful ·)

sauron, tolkien's legendarium

[personal profile] eyefire 2022-04-02 08:06 pm (UTC)(link)
1. metastravaganza.

[ It seems to his Eyes that the world is new, suffered by those of Maiar-like strength in hoards he has not seen in crowds since his days spent in Aulë's smithy. The Magia and Goeteia he witnesses are used in abundance, in ways even the most stubborn of the Fëanorians would have abhorred. There is such ozone in the air, all the time, and his flesh is assaulted via his senses as he walks the streets of the strange city; arrayed in simpler clothing than the lava-melted mess he opened his eyes in, Sauron stands at seven-feet tall in the middle of the crowd with hair golden as treasure spilling over a simple black tunic that ends by his knees, soft grey leggings under knee-high boots. Save for his hair, which owns a lustre not seen since Angband, his eyes burn with a dim light ringed in red, slit-keen and Seeing all through the walls of abodes and buildings, Looking afar to the streets beyond where any but an Elf perhaps could also take notice.

With his body returned (how far did he fall through the abyss that swallowed Númenor?) he pats his chest absently to reassure himself he is real and begins weaving his way slowly through the bustling, cheerful citizens of this strange, unknown realm. At first he was afraid when he crawled into an alley and could not sense any whisper of home, terrified of what it meant that Melkor was locked even further afield, but he reasoned (reluctantly) that Illúvatar must have created all this too, for none of the Valar were ever brave enough to gainsay Him and commit such treason.

So, as he turns over a toy of a Dark Lord (he likes the spiky black crown under his thumb) Sauron loses himself to musing. He does so a few times:

(1a.) Handed a corn-dog, he blinks at it and then the vendor before taking a bite looking mildly perplexed. He wrinkles his nose and drops it back into the oil of the cart, promptly shoving his hand in with it. As the vendor cries out in alarm, Sauron calmly heats up the oil further before taking out a far more well-done corn-dog and testing that with a nibble. So he takes five more and walks away to the shouting protests of the mortal, boiling oil dripping off his arm.

(1b.) Accosted by a mortal who is selling stretchy "superhero outfits", Sauron shakes his head when asked if he needs a uniform. When pressed and followed, he turns on his heel and becomes a being more of fëa, flame and lava coalescing so that people scream and rush away from the volcanic heat he exerts, boots melting the rocky ground. It's quite amusing to see them run yet more satisfying to stretch his powers.

(1c.) Dogs howl and bay at him like maddened creatures, so he halts and stares at them, causing those on the leashes of one unfortunate dog-walker to cower and whimper around her legs in tangles. Only a wolfdog bravely pushes forward, sniffing, and he hesitates before crouching down to beckon it forward with a hand. Its lead snaps and the wolfdog licks his palm, growls turning to happy wags of a tail. The beast starts to lose its doggier attributes (shaggier, longer-nosed and -limbed) and grows a foot in height under Sauron's hands as he pets it, the dog-walker crying aloud about theft. Unconcerned, he feeds the wolf his last corndog as they start walking away. ]
overnightoaks: (Default)

1a - he is not casting spells (yet) I just only have one icon sob

[personal profile] overnightoaks 2022-04-02 08:32 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Henry is more than a little stressed out, being trapped in yet another strange world— although this world is a lot more Earthlike than Faerûn, to be sure. Still, this is an Earth without his family or his friends, so it's not anywhere Henry particularly wants to be right now.

He's trying to distract himself by perusing the stalls at whatever Superhero(???) festival this is, lamenting the lack of vegan food option, when he sees someone who looks like they stepped straight out of Faerûn just straight up steal half a dozen corn dogs.

No. Nuh uh. Not on Henry Oak's watch.

Sauron will find a perfectly normal looking man in a pastel polo shirt and khaki shorts stepping in front of him, adjusting his glasses frames authoritatively. He definitely looks like the kind of guy who belongs in a world like this, though... If Sauron has any ability to sense this sort of thing, he may tell that the man actually has some Elven blood in him. ]


Um, excuse me, sir, but— You have to pay for those. [ He points a neurotic finger at the corn dogs. ] They're— they're not for free, you know!
eyefire: (the E Y E·)

[personal profile] eyefire 2022-04-02 08:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Staring down his nose at the elf-bred creature (no Noldo, this), his eyes glow brighter and burrow into those of the man before him, seeking out the reasoning for his actions. What thoughts could prompt such folly? The tongue of this world is harsh and basic, like a child gargling noise, and it slithers over his tongue like stone reluctantly made liquid. ]

I am not accustomed to having fees exacted.
overnightoaks: (Default)

[personal profile] overnightoaks 2022-04-02 08:47 pm (UTC)(link)
[ O..Okay this guy is slightly intimidating. But to be honest, he reminds Henry too much of his dad (who he hates) for him to just cower at the sight of some ~glowy eyes~. ]

Y-yeah, well that's the way things are here! Money is exchanged for goods and services! Services like cooking food for you to eat!
eyefire: (caustic ·)

[personal profile] eyefire 2022-04-02 08:59 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He tilts his head, hair spilling in a river of gold under his consideration as he nods back to the vendor. ]

What he offered was freely given with no word of demand upon it. That he recalled too late is a difficulty to be undone alone by him.

[ Sounds like a You problem. ]
overnightoaks: (Default)

[personal profile] overnightoaks 2022-04-02 09:04 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Henry leans to the side to peer around the tall man's form, pushing his glasses (which definitely aren't prescription, he just likes the way they make him look) up his nose, and nodding as he confirms his suspicion. ]

No, see, look. It says right there on the sign. "Corndogs, $5.99"— Waitaminute, $5.99 for a corndog?! That's— That's highway robbery!

[ He almost doesn't blame the guy for not wanting to pay that much, but... The rules are the rules and the rules of this world are that things cost money. ]

L-look, you're new here, just like I am, right? Did they give you a little plastic card when you got here? [ He fishes his own Alliance-given credit card out of his wallet. ] Like this, see? All you have to do is hand the corndog man your card and that's it, money exchanged, no harm no foul.
eyefire: (watchful ·)

[personal profile] eyefire 2022-04-02 09:08 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Calmly eating his corndogs as the tiny elf starts to wheedle, he's about to walk away when he thinks on the flimsy card (a poor gift) that was bestowed by the lords of this little world and fishes it out of his sash. He holds it up between two fingers and offers it over. ]

Take it, if it has worth.
overnightoaks: (Default)

[personal profile] overnightoaks 2022-04-02 09:13 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Henry isn't sure what he expected, but it sure wasn't this guy holding the credit card out to him. But fine, he'll act as intermediary.

He takes the card, making a show of nodding in a "yes, this is what you're supposed to do, do you see now how easy it is?" kind of way. ]


Thank you. Now I'll just go and pay the vendor.

[ He backs cautiously up a step, then walks around him to go hand the credit card to the corndog vendor. ]

See? That wasn't so hard!
eyefire: (precious ·)

[personal profile] eyefire 2022-04-02 09:17 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Paid homage with gratitude, he awaits to see what the fuss is about. ]

Where is your master that he would let you roam free and serve another so eagerly?
overnightoaks: (wut.)

[personal profile] overnightoaks 2022-04-02 09:24 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Henry raises an eyebrow. He looks at the corndog vendor, who shrugs as if to say, "man, idk either" then hands him back the card. ]

Well, no, see... We don't really do masters and servants here.

[ He holds the credit card back out for the man to take. ]

I was just... doing you a solid! You know, a favor.
eyefire: (scornful ·)

[personal profile] eyefire 2022-04-02 09:28 pm (UTC)(link)
What boon would you ask of me, in return for such unlooked-for kindness?

[ He certainly isn't about to be indebted to an elf. ]
overnightoaks: (standing proud)

[personal profile] overnightoaks 2022-04-02 09:31 pm (UTC)(link)
What boon...?

[ Henry scratches the back of his head, thinking. ]

I don't really need a boon. Just... Remember next time that you need to pay for things, instead of just taking them freely? You could do that as a favor to me!
sunlighter: (pic#10802093)

1a

[personal profile] sunlighter 2022-04-02 09:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Do you like it?

[ the well dressed man calls, smiling gently into his latte from the seat where no one was sat before moments ago. the fragrant smells of chives, parsley, and chervil travel from his omelette, along with a side of dried meat. politely, he offers a seat. ]

Try the omelette and Pastirma. It's lovely.
eyefire: (the E Y E·)

[personal profile] eyefire 2022-04-02 09:36 pm (UTC)(link)
I will owe you no favours, elf. Choose a boon.

[ But not his remaining corndogs because he is enjoying those. They are hot as the fires of Orodruin. And spicier. ]
eyefire: (cloudy ·)

[personal profile] eyefire 2022-04-02 09:39 pm (UTC)(link)
[ There is some trickery going on here; he Saw none of that a moment before. But. ]

What manner of food is this?

[ The Númenorians never ate anything that smelled that good ... ]
sunlighter: (pic#10802087)

[personal profile] sunlighter 2022-04-02 10:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Chicken eggs. Cooked gently with butter and herbs.

[ he gestures. no trickery here, only simple truths. ]

The meat, dried Turkish beef, similar to pig's bacon.
sunlighter: (pic#11507402)

wildcard, bitches

[personal profile] sunlighter 2022-04-02 11:52 pm (UTC)(link)
I should be concerned?

[ the strange, well-dressed man asks simply. how long has he been here? does this bar even serve the brand of scotch that he's sipping? he doesn't bother looking up. ]
sunlighter: (pic#10802086)

museum

[personal profile] sunlighter 2022-04-03 12:00 am (UTC)(link)
You need only look. Do you feel anything?

[ he's next to mark suddenly, hands in his pockets, his amber eyes studying the sculpture. ]
sunlighter: (pic#11507404)

b

[personal profile] sunlighter 2022-04-03 12:51 am (UTC)(link)
Please.

[ the man offers a slight smile accommodatingly from the other side of the table, his face behind a book all but for his golden eyes; his latte seems to steam without cooling. the sheer essence of him may feel... familiar to billy. ]
wordiness: (008)

[personal profile] wordiness 2022-04-03 02:24 am (UTC)(link)
[ for a moment, billy has a strange sense of deja vu as he glances up to meet the stranger's eyes. he.. knows who this is, doesn't he? or maybe he just knows someone similar.

either way, he offers a grateful smile, glance dropping with interest to his book. ]
Can I ask what you're reading?