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.
kid_flash_found: (cowl down)

[personal profile] kid_flash_found 2022-04-17 02:15 am (UTC)(link)
[That gets a frown as he really tries to place her. He totally should be better at this, but he's not. Not yet.]

I'm sorry. You look familiar, but...well, there's usually some trouble with timelines in a place like this.
the_caped_crusader: (pic#15390884)

[personal profile] the_caped_crusader 2022-04-17 02:18 am (UTC)(link)
[ he looks incredulous, sipping at his coffee. ]

You know you can just get socks from the hotel, right?
fledges: (pic#13650809)

[personal profile] fledges 2022-04-17 02:21 am (UTC)(link)
We were there for a long time together. It's kind of hard to summarize.

[A lot of slow work moving past the whole lying and betrayal thing, mostly. Is it fair to that Loki to get into such personal details with this one?

Ugh. Multiverse stuff gives her a headache.]
the_caped_crusader: (pic#15390900)

[personal profile] the_caped_crusader 2022-04-17 02:21 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah.

[ he smiles a little, too, but he would... rather he not actually do that. ]

I'm sure we'll see each other around, Red Hood. Try not to get into too much trouble.

[ and then, in perhaps the most familiar thing he's seen this batman do yet, he grapples away before jason can say anything else. ]
ikols: i've been locked out of heven (makes me feel)

[personal profile] ikols 2022-04-17 02:24 am (UTC)(link)
... Oh, okay.

[ Cagey Kate doesn't inspire his ego to want to deal with whatever happened somewhere he wasn't-but-was. Frankly, he has had enough taking responsibility for his other selves. ]

We don't have to talk about anything if it makes you feel bad.
mostdangerousbird: (Default)

[personal profile] mostdangerousbird 2022-04-17 02:27 am (UTC)(link)
[ Bruce gets to retire? That's amazing. Who would've guess that he makes it to retirement? And honestly, a heart condition is a fairly normal thing to have. Nothing too crazy then, wow. It's almost good job, Bruce.

Except for the part about pushing everyone away. Maybe they can change that if they get out ahead of it... or maybe they don't have to.
]

... either I'm not from your universe, or there's a lot he's not telling you.

[ Jason, Steph, Cass, Damian and Duke, at a minimum, but the rundown should probably include Kate and Harper as well. Really, Terry knows the tip of the Iceberg Lounge. ]
mostdangerousbird: (Default)

[personal profile] mostdangerousbird 2022-04-17 02:34 am (UTC)(link)
You can't get Wendy the Werewolf Stalker socks from the hotel. Actually, you can't get them anywhere in this universe because the show doesn't exist here.

[ Tim shrugs. ]

I'm filling my search history with randomness. If you gave me a phone, I would assume you had it so loaded with trackers that the screen was tracking camera lens.
fledges: (066)

[personal profile] fledges 2022-04-17 02:43 am (UTC)(link)
[Kate exhales, capitulating a little.]

It wasn't bad. None of it was bad. I mean, being there sucked, because the whole place was a total Blade Runner dystopian nightmare, but— He wasn't bad.

[She wrinkles her nose, tries to rein herself in a little. Okay, yeah, getting irritated was unfair. Maybe getting awkward is, too. For all everyone calls her the "sensible" one, sometimes that's just... hard.]

There were a lot of versions of people popping in and out. We all learned pretty quickly to keep those versions separate. Maybe you two started out the same, but there was a split—one of you ended up there with me and one of you didn't, right? So you're not him, and it wouldn't be fair to think of you that way.

[Especially with how many of her friends there were desperate to use New Amsterdam as a fresh start.]

I'm just trying to play catch up. Sorry.
mostdangerousbird: (003 heard the echoes of mistakes)

[personal profile] mostdangerousbird 2022-04-17 02:45 am (UTC)(link)
[ It is absolutely not what Tim wants to hear, and this is the scowliest he's been since he got here.

(And he's been pretty scowly.)

Tim gives him a long look. The scowl and mask can't fully cover the worry, and then he presses his mouth into a thin line. They are going to train until he's figured out what Kon's new normal looks like, if they're here for more than a week.
]

That's because it essentially is. And this?

[ Tim is shaking out a plastic bag that he pulled out of his utility belt, waving it at the goons. ]

Is definitely illegal.

[ He holds the open bag out for the bullets to be dropped in. ]

Welcome to "we were never here."
the_caped_crusader: (pic#15390954)

[personal profile] the_caped_crusader 2022-04-17 02:51 am (UTC)(link)
It wouldn't be a bad idea.

[ he says, pulling a burner iphone from his pocket. ]

That's why I got another.
ikols: till you meet him in the day (no one knows the darkness)

[personal profile] ikols 2022-04-17 02:53 am (UTC)(link)
... Do you know what mochi doughnuts are? They have a gooey consistency and it takes forever to chew through one, you can't talk at all while eating them and even if you try it comes out so garbled the other person has no idea what you're saying. No matter what you think or want to say, you can't. So, if you would like to have some mochi doughnuts and sit with some company you can rely on while you gain your bearings and put your noggin back in order without embarrassing yourself by letting something slip which might be super emotional ...

I can get you the doughnuts, Kate.

And you can also use my fancy shower to freshen up before you dive into this new realm head-first, that might help too. I've no wish to make you feel anxious on purpose, no matter where we are.
neverrobin: (Thinking)

[personal profile] neverrobin 2022-04-17 03:02 am (UTC)(link)
You're not, trust me.

[Terry had at least bothered to look up the who even if he hadn't looked up the where.]

I'm guessing Wayne had more than just the three partners where you're from?
fledges: (086)

[personal profile] fledges 2022-04-17 03:05 am (UTC)(link)
[That startles a soft, surprised laugh out of her, and she scrubs her hands over her face. Okay, maybe this new world thing is a hair more stressful than she thought.]

You can just tell me to shut up, Loki.

[She's teasing. She knows that's not what he meant. Actually, the offer is sweet.]

How fancy is this shower?
the_caped_crusader: (pic#15390992)

ii sorry i was brain farting hard on this lmk if this is ok!

[personal profile] the_caped_crusader 2022-04-17 03:06 am (UTC)(link)
[ seeing as they both came into this world with their costumes, it takes bruce little effort to figure a way to sync himself to the comms in duke's helmet, though the sound of his voice suddenly may confuse him. batman himself, meanwhile, watches the chase from a skyscraper not too far away. ]

'A little too much talking for my taste, but I trust you have this under control, Signal.'
ikols: before my inevitable escape (and now)

[personal profile] ikols 2022-04-17 03:09 am (UTC)(link)
I will never tell you that.

[ That's a more sincere answer than he needs to give but it feels appropriate to be less than flighty. ]

... It is pretty fucking fancy, I won't lie. Sixty-five dollar shampoo.
the_caped_crusader: (pic#15390966)

seedy underbelly

[personal profile] the_caped_crusader 2022-04-17 03:10 am (UTC)(link)
I'd rather not, to be honest.

[ she's... formidable. any version of her, he suspects. but even draped in shadows, the symbol on his chest should give her some degree of comfort... and if not that, that she'll be able to see his body language as authentic. ]
robintohood: ([D] Bittersweet)

[personal profile] robintohood 2022-04-17 03:17 am (UTC)(link)
[Jason has A Lot to think about tonight. Their conversation was more informative than he ever expected and its stirred emotions in him that aren't just anger. They're feelings he's tried to bury. He needs time to process everything.

But as he watches Batman go flying off, he also thinks in mild admiration, "goddamn. He's still got it."]
fledges: (090)

[personal profile] fledges 2022-04-17 03:19 am (UTC)(link)
[She catches the sincerity, quietly notes it, but doesn't call attention to it.]

I feel obligated to tell you how ridiculous that is, but.

[But.]

I want to try it.

[Materialism is bad, no one needs shampoo that fancy, etc., but desperate times.]

By the way, the last time I saw you was during that whole Mother mess. After that you completely disappeared.

[And time has healed that particular wound a bit, but still. Better to let him know, especially after that whole speech about treating him as his own Loki or whatever.]
mostdangerousbird: (006 leave a bad taste in your mouth)

[personal profile] mostdangerousbird 2022-04-17 03:22 am (UTC)(link)
It's on the list. I'm going to try to pull cash from the card they gave me for some electronics.

[ Laptop, upgrades that he can do himself, a phone. If Bruce is this... settled in, then this is not going to be a quick visit. ]

How long have you been here?
fledges: (090)

[personal profile] fledges 2022-04-17 03:24 am (UTC)(link)
How hardcore are these flex cuffs?

[She feels a little bad just leaving the guy up here, but it's not like there's much else they can do while he's still stuck like this. Carrying him down certainly isn't an option.]

And how safe? I don't want this poor guy getting all torn up wiggling around.
the_caped_crusader: (pic#15390879)

[personal profile] the_caped_crusader 2022-04-17 03:36 am (UTC)(link)
Since January.

[ he breaks off a crispy edge of the croissaint before lightly dipping it into the coffee. delicious. ]

Oh, and try not to get yelled at by Linda from accounting if you max out your card too quickly.
robintohood: (Goodbye to my enemies)

i

[personal profile] robintohood 2022-04-17 03:54 am (UTC)(link)
[Jason was quietly browsing and listening to pedestrians for anything that could be useful. He was still adjusting to this new city and as tempting as the guilds sound, he still doesn't trust them. They seem too good to be true.

Jason adjusts his red hoodie as the girl in purple aviators talks]

They're all kinda dorky from what I'm seeing.

[Jason then holds up a caped purple and red figure with a pointy-eared cowl and a bat symbol on its chest]
fledges: (085)

[personal profile] fledges 2022-04-17 04:07 am (UTC)(link)
[Kate frowns down at the little action figure, and yeah, okay, maybe her eyes go immediately to the bat symbol, but a bat doesn't mean anything. Probably.]

What do you think the little horns are for? Headbutting people?
robintohood: (I'm a hero)

[personal profile] robintohood 2022-04-17 04:15 am (UTC)(link)
[Jason chuckles at the mental image of Batman headbutting like a goat]

Maybe? Or maybe they're bunny ears. What's with the caped dork you're holding?
lowercase_el: (005)

[personal profile] lowercase_el 2022-04-17 04:24 am (UTC)(link)
[Kon drops the bullets in without actually touching them with his skin, using his teke instead. So it doesn't mess up Tim trying to analyze them later when he goes all CSI files.]

[He voice goes hushed in fake awe.]

Woooow, I'm a secret vigilante now. Fading into the night. When do I get my domino mask and subterranean training regime?