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.
robintohood: ([RH] First mistake)

[personal profile] robintohood 2022-04-12 11:49 pm (UTC)(link)
[Jason straightens his biker jacket after the brawl he had just thoroughly given to the gang. Then he looks back at Riff. He's surprised the guy hasn't fled or jumped on him like the others. Or maybe there's going to be a delayed reaction once he was done with his smoke break]

Thanks. It goes great with my eyes.

[Since Riff doesn't seem to be a threat for now, Jason figures he can risk having a relatively civil conversation. Maybe he'll get more information too]
whocares: (climbing every rib inside us)

[personal profile] whocares 2022-04-12 11:52 pm (UTC)(link)
[ over Tim's shoulder he eyes up the lady behind the till, speaking just loud enough that she won't miss his words if she's listening. ]

Mighta been something in here worth something, you know? Valuable-like. But all this is just junk.
whocares: (climbing every rib inside us)

[personal profile] whocares 2022-04-12 11:56 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Riff's seen the guy fight and doesn't rate his chances of taking him. He's rumbled with others and this guy isn't like that. He'd break his arm easy as looking at him and while there's part of Riff that thinks he could hold his own for longer than some of these chumps--

he blows out a puff of smoke ]


You got eyes under there? Or you just don't want people to know how plain ugly ya are?
robintohood: ([RH] Haven't lost the touch)

[personal profile] robintohood 2022-04-13 12:03 am (UTC)(link)
[Jason barks out a laugh. He's all too familiar with the tough-talking brash attitude thanks to his time in Gotham's roughest neighborhoods. He's used that front too. Still does sometimes]

At least I'm in better shape than your buddies at the moment.
the_caped_crusader: (pic#15390914)

[personal profile] the_caped_crusader 2022-04-13 01:24 am (UTC)(link)
Wait are you talking about an actual cheese danish or--

[ not one he's familiar with. or did he actually want a cheese danish? maybe they should rethink their code words. ]

Nevermind. I know a place nearby.
the_caped_crusader: (pic#15390926)

[personal profile] the_caped_crusader 2022-04-13 01:30 am (UTC)(link)
[ minutes later, they're both sitting on the sidewalk, bruce himself handily juggling three carne asada tacos wrapped in tin foil. the short, stout vendor gave the two of them a little batdab before they sit, though who knows what that's about, right? ]

Before we start, we should get this out of the way-- you're not from my timeline. Or maybe you're further behind, I don't know. These things are always complicated.

[ from his belt, he pulls a small bottle of tapatio and offers it. ]
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2022-04-13 01:31 am (UTC)(link)
[David reaches into his bag and pulls out a pen and paper.]

You cool with an old school exchange?
whocares: (wrists get tired rewriting futures)

[personal profile] whocares 2022-04-13 01:48 am (UTC)(link)
[ the laugh is met with a dirty look, not liking that this guy might be having a laugh at his expense. he doesn't even look down to the guys lying in the street. ]

These bozo? Fuck 'em. Never met 'em before today. Whaddo I care if they're too dumb not to get their arms broke.

[ which Riff assuredly does not, even if he's doing his best to hide that apprehension behind his bravado ]

Didn't think you big shot hero-types went in for beating on street thugs like this. You get off on it, is that what it's like?
Edited 2022-04-13 01:49 (UTC)
mostdangerousbird: (009)

[personal profile] mostdangerousbird 2022-04-13 02:10 am (UTC)(link)
[ Aw, nuts, Riff. Why do you have to go and do that? Tim was just going to chat until it felt less Riff was gonna follow Tim around the market.

Now Tim's gotta follow Riff around the market. He had plans that didn't involve babysitting shoplifters.
]

It's all valuable-like - to the right people. That's why we pay for it.

[ He laughs its the stupidest joke the world ever played, making him want to pay for things he wanted. ]

If junk was worthless, Twinkies would go out of business.
robintohood: ([D] Last to hurt)

[personal profile] robintohood 2022-04-13 02:12 am (UTC)(link)
[Jason has taken off his helmet and placed it next to him. And of course, he reveals he's been wearing a dark domino mask underneath it. He's then taken aback by Bruce's blunt statement and takes a moment to collect himself before taking the bottle of tapatio]

What gave it away? "Your" Jason's a good little soldier again?

[He can't help himself with the verbal jabs as he pours tapatio over his three carne asada tacos. His last meeting with Bruce was metaphorically and literally explosive]
whocares: (an orchestration Of dissonance)

[personal profile] whocares 2022-04-13 02:17 am (UTC)(link)
[ Riff scoffs at the idea, entirely dismissive of paying for goods--

except that he perks right up at that last part ]


Get outta town, boy scout! They got Twinkies in this Buck Rogers world?
the_caped_crusader: (pic#15390927)

[personal profile] the_caped_crusader 2022-04-13 02:20 am (UTC)(link)
It's the helmet.

[ bruce scratches lightly under the cowl, responding with his mouth half full as though either he's unaffected by it, or he's heard it before. likely both. ]

You haven't started adding any details to it yet. Mm.

[ he grunts a little and holds his hand back out for the hot sauce. ]
mostdangerousbird: (012 but what is a monster anyway?)

[personal profile] mostdangerousbird 2022-04-13 02:23 am (UTC)(link)
[ Something isn't lining up. Since Tim's word was the most recently updated, it's probably him - or else they're from worlds close enough that they're both wrong. Why is this the day Tim is having? It could be worse - it could be so much worse, and he is not trying to jinx himself, so he's going to stop even internally complaining about it. ]

No, I wasn't.

[ He was trying not to just throw code words around like word salad in public. ]

I wouldn't mind one though. I didn't eat at the hotel.
robintohood: ([D] Bittersweet)

[personal profile] robintohood 2022-04-13 02:40 am (UTC)(link)
[Jason hands back the bottle]

Haven't thought to do that yet. So far I like to keep some things simple.

[As he takes a big bite into one of his tacos, he wonders what details he would add to the helmet]
robintohood: (I'm a hero)

[personal profile] robintohood 2022-04-13 02:41 am (UTC)(link)
Don't see why not.

[Jason takes the pen and paper and scribbles down the number to his burner phone]
robintohood: ([RH] First mistake)

[personal profile] robintohood 2022-04-13 02:47 am (UTC)(link)
[Jason smirks underneath his helmet. The guy's definitely not from Gotham if he's calling him a "big shot hero-type." Jason knows Riff is speaking with more bravado than sense but he's also recognizing that it's highly unlikely he's going to attack him. He just has to be a little careful with where the conversation goes]

Nah. I'm just a concerned citizen looking out for the neighborhood. Besides, I don't do capes.

[Not anymore]
whocares: (write every forecast)

[personal profile] whocares 2022-04-13 02:54 am (UTC)(link)
So you're not one of them Alliance ones? You know-- normal guys don't sit around at night just because they're all civic minded. You're gonna get picked up by the cops, you know. Taken in to get your head shrunk.

[ Catch Riff dead joining up with them, or the Villainous Group of Dickheads. None of this is for him, or so he's telling himself. ]
mostdangerousbird: (Default)

[personal profile] mostdangerousbird 2022-04-13 02:54 am (UTC)(link)
[ It hadn't actually occurred to Tim that Twinkies might not exist in this universe. Certain people being different or missing, sure. Different cities was stranger, but he could accept that a city is entirely dependent on the explosive growth from stemming from the decision of a few settlers. Change half a dozen people in the 1600s, and Gotham doesn't exist.

Twinkies, on the other hand, are supposed to survive the end times. If there aren't Twinkies, what's next? No baseball?
]

If they don't, I'm gonna need a shrink because I don't know what I've been eating.

[ He wants to say, god I hope so, but Riff thinks he's native. Tim thinks Riff's world sounds like Tim's - boy scouts, Twinkies, Buck Rogers. Even the way Riff talks, he sounds like half the wiseguys in Gotham. Maybe it's got an outdated twang, but it's not wrong to Tim's ears.

But now Tim's worried about whether talking about Twinkies has ruined the name Tim as unattached to the Diadem Hotel.
]

I thought the Guilds helped the new heroes brought in by the confluences. Paid hero jobs and nice apartments and all that. If you don't know if there's Twinkies, why are you here?
whocares: (of something broken)

[personal profile] whocares 2022-04-13 02:59 am (UTC)(link)
[ he laughs, but there's his answer. if this world ain't got Twinkies, this kid's like him.

Riff hasn't been looking for anyone else who's been dumped here, not consciously. But maybe he's a little curious about it all. Disinterested, like, of course. But it's good to know a little more. ]


Oh, yeah. They're gonna give me a fancy apartment and all that nice bullshit they spin at the processing facility. Gimme a break, boy scout. That shit ain't for people like me.
robintohood: ([RH] You and your toys)

[personal profile] robintohood 2022-04-13 03:05 am (UTC)(link)
[Jason lightly scoffs]

Yeah, don't get it twisted. The Alliance are the real goody two-shoes, not me. I'm not the type for their little club.

[Jason had been trying keep details about himself close to the vest since coming to Central. But Riff hasn't called the cops or the Alliance on him so far. Perhaps they shared some common ground]

And as for the cops? Well, that's just another challenge.

[For now, Jason wasn't worried about them. Dodging them wasn't any worse than dodging GCPD]
Edited 2022-04-13 03:06 (UTC)
whocares: (and innocent surrender)

[personal profile] whocares 2022-04-13 03:07 am (UTC)(link)
From where I'm sitting, you're sure beating on the shakedown gangs. That's goody-two-shoes to me.

[ he blows a mouthful of smoke right in the direction of this guy, just provoking a little more than before. is he going to be told he's wrong? what's this guy's deal anyway ]
robintohood: ([RH] First mistake)

[personal profile] robintohood 2022-04-13 03:13 am (UTC)(link)
[Jason recognizes the action as a way to try and provoke him. He doesn't fall for it as so far, Riff seems to be just a guy with a big mouth and not enough self-preservation]

You say that like it's a bad thing. From what I heard, the bastards have been shaking down people for a while and the Alliance has done jackshit about it.
whocares: (of something broken)

[personal profile] whocares 2022-04-13 03:21 am (UTC)(link)
I hear they don't stop tugging on their dicks for anything less than the end of the city.

[ he doesn't believe this hooded guy's protests that he isn't one of them. in his view, there's no other excuse for what he's doing. but if the guy wants to pretend otherwise, Riff isn't keen enough for a broken arm to push him to it ]
mostdangerousbird: (007 where’s your life gone?)

[personal profile] mostdangerousbird 2022-04-13 03:24 am (UTC)(link)
I think it's more of a payment than a gift. They get another hero; you get cash and room and board. I thought everyone would jump on a deal like that.

[ Everyone can pretend a society of villains (or reformed villains that are still villainous, however they want to split that hair) is a viable option, but Tim's not about to do their advertising for them.

He holds up one of the figures he's bought.
]

So I guess Riff's not your hero moniker, and I'm not gonna find one of these for you next week?
whocares: (we are X-rays)

[personal profile] whocares 2022-04-13 03:29 am (UTC)(link)
It ain't the name my ma screeches at me down the hall when I walk through the door, if that's what you mean.

[ but he looks genuinely disgusted at the idea someone would make a doll of him. ]

Like I said. All that ain't for types like me. I look out for myself, so I don't gotta owe anybody anything. And no one tries to stick my mug on a god-damned doll.