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TEST DRIVE MEME: NOVEMBER EDITION
TEST DRIVE MEME
A Confluence, capitalized, is the converging of one or more supernatural forces.
This Confluence is predicted. Guild officials are ready to capture the new Starfallen and explain the situation to them. All of this has become quite mundane for them, but you -
You find yourself suddenly falling from the sky. Careening towards the pavement, only to be caught at the last minute by thin ribbons made of stardust. They would have caught you far faster, as they've been getting quite skilled at snapping tumbling bodies from mid-air, but...
This Confluence is predicted. Guild officials are ready to capture the new Starfallen and explain the situation to them. All of this has become quite mundane for them, but you -
You find yourself suddenly falling from the sky. Careening towards the pavement, only to be caught at the last minute by thin ribbons made of stardust. They would have caught you far faster, as they've been getting quite skilled at snapping tumbling bodies from mid-air, but...
ONE MIND, ONE WILL. CENTRAL CITY, MICHIGAN.
Staticky octogon-shaped portals appear in the sky you just fell from. At that same moment, every screen in Central City flares to life. A PINK-SKINNED ALIEN with glittering, crystalline compound eyes stares calmly into the camera.
"My greetings to The Society of Samaritans. My dear old teammates. And their hero friends like Atom...? Atomight? Atomight. If they're even still alive... When you've lived as long as I have..."
He trails off, staring into the distance. It takes a moment for him to resume speaking. "I hope they don't still have you all convinced of the delusion of free will. What does free will matter in the face of immortality? Of freedom from strife? I would reshape you all into something so beautiful." He gives the camera a beatific smile. "I don't know why you would eschew that - so I'm just going to take the choice out of your hands. It's for your own good, really. The Forerunner is here to save you from yourselves."
At that, monsters start to pour through the portals. Instantly there's mass panic. Screams fill the streets.
The Forerunner is viewed as a "god" by the monsters coming through. ABOMINIDS twisted long-limbed biological monstrosities slavishly devoted to him, and his AUTOMATA, incredibly intricate machines lacking free will. Alliance members appear familiar with his tactics, and familiar with the foe. They can tell you that The Forerunner himself is unable to cross between dimensions due to the tragedy that made him. In an act of heroic self-sacrifice which warped his mind, he was trapped between dimensions and his body was warped beyond recognition. This isn't the first time he's attacked Earth with his monstrosities, hoping to weaken the planet's defenses.
The monsters are not the only threat. The Forerunner has developed the ability to hack free will. Automata and Abominids are putting mind control helmets on unpowered citizens en masse, the projected stream of sound they provide capable of binding the victims to his will.
Swarms of converted non-meta civilians are quickly captured and converted. These people are not themselves, but they must be fought, freed, or avoided. You, heroes and villains, are the only force that can avert disaster. The mind-controlled civillians are targeting infrastructure like power transformers and fire departments.
Even more worrying, the Converts are swarming the local hospitals, raiding metahuman wards to take control of metas too sick and weak to fight back. These metas are the intended building blocks for the invasion force, who will be mind controlled and forced to fight despite illness or injuries. At ground zero for the earliest attacks, medical staff need help transporting sick patients and newborn babies to hospital wings that can be more effectively barricaded. Some will wind up trapped, stuck holding doors shut together while fists pound outside.
Whether heroes or villains, those unfortunate enough to be captured will find themselves given a modified mind control device at the base of the neck. If you are so unlucky, you will act completely normal at first to put the people around you off guard. And when the opportunity arises, you will try to convert others by implanting those same devices. The constant stream of mental hacking will leave your personality mostly intact, save for the devotion to the Forerunner.
"Surrender and sublimate. Flesh into flesh. All are one in the Forerunner." They chant in the streets.
Removing the devices instantly liberates the captive. However, there are so many of them. It's up to the Starfallen to hold the line, and stop others from being taken.
"My greetings to The Society of Samaritans. My dear old teammates. And their hero friends like Atom...? Atomight? Atomight. If they're even still alive... When you've lived as long as I have..."
He trails off, staring into the distance. It takes a moment for him to resume speaking. "I hope they don't still have you all convinced of the delusion of free will. What does free will matter in the face of immortality? Of freedom from strife? I would reshape you all into something so beautiful." He gives the camera a beatific smile. "I don't know why you would eschew that - so I'm just going to take the choice out of your hands. It's for your own good, really. The Forerunner is here to save you from yourselves."
At that, monsters start to pour through the portals. Instantly there's mass panic. Screams fill the streets.
The Forerunner is viewed as a "god" by the monsters coming through. ABOMINIDS twisted long-limbed biological monstrosities slavishly devoted to him, and his AUTOMATA, incredibly intricate machines lacking free will. Alliance members appear familiar with his tactics, and familiar with the foe. They can tell you that The Forerunner himself is unable to cross between dimensions due to the tragedy that made him. In an act of heroic self-sacrifice which warped his mind, he was trapped between dimensions and his body was warped beyond recognition. This isn't the first time he's attacked Earth with his monstrosities, hoping to weaken the planet's defenses.
The monsters are not the only threat. The Forerunner has developed the ability to hack free will. Automata and Abominids are putting mind control helmets on unpowered citizens en masse, the projected stream of sound they provide capable of binding the victims to his will.
Swarms of converted non-meta civilians are quickly captured and converted. These people are not themselves, but they must be fought, freed, or avoided. You, heroes and villains, are the only force that can avert disaster. The mind-controlled civillians are targeting infrastructure like power transformers and fire departments.
Even more worrying, the Converts are swarming the local hospitals, raiding metahuman wards to take control of metas too sick and weak to fight back. These metas are the intended building blocks for the invasion force, who will be mind controlled and forced to fight despite illness or injuries. At ground zero for the earliest attacks, medical staff need help transporting sick patients and newborn babies to hospital wings that can be more effectively barricaded. Some will wind up trapped, stuck holding doors shut together while fists pound outside.
Whether heroes or villains, those unfortunate enough to be captured will find themselves given a modified mind control device at the base of the neck. If you are so unlucky, you will act completely normal at first to put the people around you off guard. And when the opportunity arises, you will try to convert others by implanting those same devices. The constant stream of mental hacking will leave your personality mostly intact, save for the devotion to the Forerunner.
"Surrender and sublimate. Flesh into flesh. All are one in the Forerunner." They chant in the streets.
Removing the devices instantly liberates the captive. However, there are so many of them. It's up to the Starfallen to hold the line, and stop others from being taken.
DIADEM HOTEL
Whether you've survived the chaos, or arrived after the trouble's over, you're not going home anytime soon. Hopefully, the LUXURY HOTEL they've put you up in will ease that sting.
The DIADEM HOTEL is usually reserved for the obscenely wealthy. Its rooms are enormous, the beds quite literally enchanted to offer the perfect night's sleep, and the food would usually cost your life savings just to sample. But given the circumstances, the Guilds feel its the least they can do to aid your transition into this world. EVERYTHING is complimentary, and everyone gets an ALLIANCE CREDIT CARD to spend on entertainment, clothing, and whatever other necessities they might need. The cards have an obscenely high limit and there doesn't seem to be an expectation for you to pay it back... though if they catch you abusing it, their accountant will be coming for your head.
There's a shopping center immediately across the street. It has an impressive array of outlets that cater to your every need. Food, clothing... and swords? If you can think of it, it's for sale. Although anything clearly supernatural or metahuman seems to be at a minimum and offered under the table. You can grab clothing made to withstand any superpower and a surprisingly mediocre Taco Bell order while you're at it. There's a Super Cinema in the shopping complex across the street that's showing the 11th sequel of a popular action racing franchise, BLASTS FROM THE CURIOUS: LAST OF THE NEFARIOUS, in which Hubcaps Nefarious tries to undo the Carmageddon caused by evil tech entrepreneur Jebs Robs. He uses the Large Hadron Collider to launch a Bugati into the past to save the world and the most important thing of all: family.
CENTRAL CITY isn't exactly the nicest place in the world, even after the clean up from the Forerunners's attack. Wander too far from the shopping district and you'll find yourselves thick into territory controlled by the local non-meta crime syndicate... but maybe that's where you want to be. Maybe you're here to see just what this world is dealing with. If you're going to be stuck here you might as well make yourself useful, right?
Or perhaps you're NOT the heroic type. Maybe this is simply scoping out the competition.
Regardless, it won't take long for TROUBLE to find you. Test out your new powers, do a little thieving, stop a few muggings - this is your time to use as you see fit.
The DIADEM HOTEL is usually reserved for the obscenely wealthy. Its rooms are enormous, the beds quite literally enchanted to offer the perfect night's sleep, and the food would usually cost your life savings just to sample. But given the circumstances, the Guilds feel its the least they can do to aid your transition into this world. EVERYTHING is complimentary, and everyone gets an ALLIANCE CREDIT CARD to spend on entertainment, clothing, and whatever other necessities they might need. The cards have an obscenely high limit and there doesn't seem to be an expectation for you to pay it back... though if they catch you abusing it, their accountant will be coming for your head.
There's a shopping center immediately across the street. It has an impressive array of outlets that cater to your every need. Food, clothing... and swords? If you can think of it, it's for sale. Although anything clearly supernatural or metahuman seems to be at a minimum and offered under the table. You can grab clothing made to withstand any superpower and a surprisingly mediocre Taco Bell order while you're at it. There's a Super Cinema in the shopping complex across the street that's showing the 11th sequel of a popular action racing franchise, BLASTS FROM THE CURIOUS: LAST OF THE NEFARIOUS, in which Hubcaps Nefarious tries to undo the Carmageddon caused by evil tech entrepreneur Jebs Robs. He uses the Large Hadron Collider to launch a Bugati into the past to save the world and the most important thing of all: family.
CENTRAL CITY isn't exactly the nicest place in the world, even after the clean up from the Forerunners's attack. Wander too far from the shopping district and you'll find yourselves thick into territory controlled by the local non-meta crime syndicate... but maybe that's where you want to be. Maybe you're here to see just what this world is dealing with. If you're going to be stuck here you might as well make yourself useful, right?
Or perhaps you're NOT the heroic type. Maybe this is simply scoping out the competition.
Regardless, it won't take long for TROUBLE to find you. Test out your new powers, do a little thieving, stop a few muggings - this is your time to use as you see fit.
THE PUMPKIN KING. SUNSET FALLS, MASSACHUSETTS.
The recently open door to the underworld is now closed but that doesn't mean Sunset Falls is free from supernatural events. That said, what's currently happening is at least a normal kind of abnormal, a well-established, necessary yearly ritual.
Every year, a being known as Magna Cucurbita, also called the Pumpkin King or Old Man Autumn, must be appeased so that Autumn in the northern hemisphere can start progressing to Winter and the other seasons. In the past, this entailed flattering him with various depictions in TV specials and movies, but with some of these beloved holiday specials and movies moving to streaming services and being viewed by less people - and increasing Christmas creep - this seasonal elemental has taken affront at the lack of attention at the end of the harvest season.
Fortunately, the magical community in Sunset Falls knows how he can still be appeased. Every year they perform a ritual in some pumpkin fields, corn fields, and orchards just outside Sunset Falls. While the ritual is led by the Alliance's Silent Mystic, the magical community sees it as something that transcends the loyalties of the guilds and all are welcome to help out, regardless of affiliation. It takes a large number of people performing it to make it work, enough that those that might be hesitant will practically be begged because of the importance of making sure Autumn doesn't last all year long.
After being teleported in by the mages, the ritual is a mostly harmless one. Much like the recent masquerade ball, all participants must pick out a harvest mask but instead of magically hiding their identity the mask does the opposite: it enhances it, transforming and taking the form of something deeply personal or that best represents the individual. Sometimes the carvings and paint can show more than one thing, causing a wearer to have an entire collage of personal symbols, objects, characters, or even whole scenes depicted on the mask.
Two participants, often chosen at random, then have their hands bound together with twine woven from straw. They have to walk through the pumpkin patch and both eat an apple from the orchard, then walk into the cornfields. Once all the sound gives way to the white noise of rustling corn stalks, they have to kneel and tell each other their greatest desire. This can be any number of things, both possible and impossible, like the recovery of something long-lost (or gone forever), a short-term goal they're desperate to accomplish, or a lifelong dream they keep aspiring towards.
This admission must be the truth or at least close to the spirit of it, and the stronger the desire, the sooner the ritual will be finished. This is a harvest of emotion that appeases the spirit.
Until both have said their truth, Magna Cucurbita can be seen in glimpses, circling in the corn around them, wearing his grand suit embroidered with pumpkins, accompanied by two skeletal Halloween spirits. When he is finally appeased the spirit gracefully departs, leaving behind the scent of pumpkins, bonfires, and ripe apples. Participants can then return to the others.
When enough participants have appeased the Pumpkin King, a very light first snow will fall, heralding Winter, and the ritual will be declared over. The new season is always welcomed in with the mages treating everyone to magically delicious hot cocoa and hot cider, various apple treats (baked, candied, and caramel), and various pumpkin based foods like pie and pumpkin spice bread.
Provided they don't indulge in a snowball fight first, everyone is then taken home.
EXCELSIOR
A scientist in Excelsior has come forward, claiming that he can solve the current metahuman crisis with science. Robots, he says, without intelligence. One that is programmed to follow human law by the letter. They do not need metahuman intervention. Their problems are caused by scientific minds, and so the solution must come from them.
The robots in question are mass-producted from cheap material. Their programming is… slapdash, at best. And there is no government sign-off on these robots, the eager scientist simply flings open the door to his lab and unleashes them upon the city.
Rejoice, he cries, I, Sprocket Biggs have saved this city!
He has not.
The robots are doing what they are instructed to. They are intervening when they catch sight of someone endangering others, or breaking the law. Unfortunately Sprocket did not think to check what laws they were upholding, nor did he think to prune the more ridiculous ones that have entered legislation over the centuries. And so these poor, ridiculous creatures descend upon the unsuspecting populace with only their binary understanding of what is and isn’t a law.
Some of the laws the robots are adhering to are…
• It is illegal to attach a vending machine to a utility pole without prior consent from the utility company.
• No person may walk about in public if he or she has the common cold.
• Destroying a beer cask or bottle of another is illegal.
• It is illegal to entice girls away from the Maple Lane School for girls.
• X-rays may not be used to fit shoes.
• All lollipops are banned.
• A law to reduce crime states: "It is mandatory for a motorist with criminal intentions to stop at the city limits and telephone the chief of police as he is entering the town.
• It is illegal to paint polka dots on the American flag.
• People may not buy a mattress on Sunday.
• All motor vehicles must be preceded by a man carrying a red flag (daytime) or a red lantern (nighttime) fifty feet in front of said vehicle.
• It is illegal to pretend that one's parents are rich.
• One may not spit on a bus.
• When two trains come to a crossing, neither shall go until the other has passed.
• You cannot buy meat of any kind on Sunday.
• No person may walk about in public if he or she has the common cold. RCW 70.54.050 Exposing contagious disease -- Penalty. Every person who shall wilfully expose himself to another, or any animal affected with any contagious or infectious disease, in any public place or thoroughfare, except upon his or its necessary removal in a manner not dangerous to the public health; and every person so affected who shall expose any other person thereto without his knowledge, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
• A law to reduce crime states: "It is mandatory for a motorist with criminal intentions to stop at the city limits and telephone the chief of police as he is entering the town. This law was set up to curb an ever increasing crime rate in the area. Due to its sheer stupidity, however, it is needless to say that the law has affected nothing.
• You may not shuck peanuts on the street.
• It is illegal to display a hypnotized or allegedly hypnotized person in a store window.
• Dancing and drinking may not occur at the same establishment.
• You may not carry a concealed weapon that is over six feet in length.
• One may not spit on a bus.
• Those who sit on men's laps on buses or trains without placing a pillow between them face an automatic six-month jail term.
• No one may set fire to another person's property without prior permission.
• It is illegal to carry a fishbowl or aquarium onto a bus because the sound of the water sloshing may disturb other passengers.
• No one may kneel on a pedestrian skywalk.
• Spitting on city buses is outlawed.
• Persons may not wear a life jacket near a public body of water.
• TV's may not be bought on Sundays.
• Strippers may not come closer than four feet to any customer.
• No structure shall contain more than two toilets that use potable water for flushing.
• It is illegal to give noxious substances to a bird in any city park.
• You may not ride an ugly horse
• And many more.
These misshapen, malfunctioning hunks of metal are not much of a threat to any metahuman. They’ll sound their klaxons and chase you with grabbing hands, intent on hefting you above their heads and taking you directly to the nearest authority. This could be a police offer, but it’s much more likely to anyone with authority nearby. Don’t be surprised if your captor rockets through the windows of a board meeting, dropping you in front of the CEO expectantly.
They’re surprisingly durable, at least physically. It’s probably possible to overload them mentally without much effort, a simple logic puzzle or two might do. Or just bring up a few conflicting laws! Maybe even break as many as possible. Best to team up and grab a buddy so they don’t know who to chase.
The robots in question are mass-producted from cheap material. Their programming is… slapdash, at best. And there is no government sign-off on these robots, the eager scientist simply flings open the door to his lab and unleashes them upon the city.
Rejoice, he cries, I, Sprocket Biggs have saved this city!
He has not.
The robots are doing what they are instructed to. They are intervening when they catch sight of someone endangering others, or breaking the law. Unfortunately Sprocket did not think to check what laws they were upholding, nor did he think to prune the more ridiculous ones that have entered legislation over the centuries. And so these poor, ridiculous creatures descend upon the unsuspecting populace with only their binary understanding of what is and isn’t a law.
Some of the laws the robots are adhering to are…
• It is illegal to attach a vending machine to a utility pole without prior consent from the utility company.
• No person may walk about in public if he or she has the common cold.
• Destroying a beer cask or bottle of another is illegal.
• It is illegal to entice girls away from the Maple Lane School for girls.
• X-rays may not be used to fit shoes.
(more laws here)
• All lollipops are banned.
• A law to reduce crime states: "It is mandatory for a motorist with criminal intentions to stop at the city limits and telephone the chief of police as he is entering the town.
• It is illegal to paint polka dots on the American flag.
• People may not buy a mattress on Sunday.
• All motor vehicles must be preceded by a man carrying a red flag (daytime) or a red lantern (nighttime) fifty feet in front of said vehicle.
• It is illegal to pretend that one's parents are rich.
• One may not spit on a bus.
• When two trains come to a crossing, neither shall go until the other has passed.
• You cannot buy meat of any kind on Sunday.
• No person may walk about in public if he or she has the common cold. RCW 70.54.050 Exposing contagious disease -- Penalty. Every person who shall wilfully expose himself to another, or any animal affected with any contagious or infectious disease, in any public place or thoroughfare, except upon his or its necessary removal in a manner not dangerous to the public health; and every person so affected who shall expose any other person thereto without his knowledge, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
• A law to reduce crime states: "It is mandatory for a motorist with criminal intentions to stop at the city limits and telephone the chief of police as he is entering the town. This law was set up to curb an ever increasing crime rate in the area. Due to its sheer stupidity, however, it is needless to say that the law has affected nothing.
• You may not shuck peanuts on the street.
• It is illegal to display a hypnotized or allegedly hypnotized person in a store window.
• Dancing and drinking may not occur at the same establishment.
• You may not carry a concealed weapon that is over six feet in length.
• One may not spit on a bus.
• Those who sit on men's laps on buses or trains without placing a pillow between them face an automatic six-month jail term.
• No one may set fire to another person's property without prior permission.
• It is illegal to carry a fishbowl or aquarium onto a bus because the sound of the water sloshing may disturb other passengers.
• No one may kneel on a pedestrian skywalk.
• Spitting on city buses is outlawed.
• Persons may not wear a life jacket near a public body of water.
• TV's may not be bought on Sundays.
• Strippers may not come closer than four feet to any customer.
• No structure shall contain more than two toilets that use potable water for flushing.
• It is illegal to give noxious substances to a bird in any city park.
• You may not ride an ugly horse
• And many more.
These misshapen, malfunctioning hunks of metal are not much of a threat to any metahuman. They’ll sound their klaxons and chase you with grabbing hands, intent on hefting you above their heads and taking you directly to the nearest authority. This could be a police offer, but it’s much more likely to anyone with authority nearby. Don’t be surprised if your captor rockets through the windows of a board meeting, dropping you in front of the CEO expectantly.
They’re surprisingly durable, at least physically. It’s probably possible to overload them mentally without much effort, a simple logic puzzle or two might do. Or just bring up a few conflicting laws! Maybe even break as many as possible. Best to team up and grab a buddy so they don’t know who to chase.
CLIFF NOTES.
➢ New arrivals will be appearing in Central City. They fall from the skies and are caught moments before impact by magic users from the guilds.
➢ Taking advantage of thinned spots between dimensions caused by the Confluences and the recent opening to the Underworld, the otherdimensional tyrant known as the Forerunner is attacking the city.
➢ The Forerunner uses mind control devices and monsters to try to bring the city under his thumb. The mind control devices instill a sense of loyalty and devotion to the Forerunner.
➢ Those who are under his mind control will attack key infrastructure in the city, including hospitals. Players must defend themselves from a hoard of mind-controlled civilians, metas, and maybe even friends!
➢ This will last roughly one day before being brought under control. A heck of an entrance, though! In the aftermath, newbies will be brought to the DIADEM HOTEL.
➢ In Sunset Falls, the annual rituals to appease the Pumpkin King must be undertaken. The ritual involves showing him your truth. You must take a mask and put it on your face, and the mask's appearance will reflect your deepest truth.
➢ Two characters will be randomly paired together, and must share a truth about themselves. This can be any number of things, both possible and impossible, like the recovery of something long-lost (or gone forever), a short-term goal they're desperate to accomplish, or a lifelong dream they keep aspiring towards. Once done, the spirit is pleased and departs, allowing winter to come.
➢ In Excelsior, a scientist has made robots that are programmed to uphold the law! Unfortunately, he didn't specify which laws, and these robots are now trying to enforce some really weird ones.
➢ These robots are largely harmless. They're physically strong but mentally dim. They're mostly loud, bumbling, and doing their best. If caught, you'll be brought to the nearest authority - who can be anyone in a position of power, or who simply radiates authority.
➢ The easiest way to beat them is to break as many weird laws as possible. Team up and get creative. Or if you think you can take them head on, suit up and beat them up.
➢ Current Players are welcome to treat this as a bonus event. These events are canonically happening within the game but can be largely ignored if you'd prefer to use the month for personal plots. You can tag into the TDM, reference these prompts in network posts, or use them in your own logs.
WILDCARD.
Metaheroes takes inspiration from all walks of comics. Take a look at the CITIES to get an idea as to what day to day life is like in the other cities. Perhaps you've encountered a supervillain (or hero) who needs to be thwarted, or a metahuman with unusual powers creating bizarre effects. You can also take a look at the MISSION BOARD to get your start as a professional hero, villain, or vigilante.
jon kent ( dc )
DIADEM
CENTRAL CITY
a.
b.
WILDCARD
CC.a.
She turns to look, one eyebrow raising above her domino mask. ]
The t-shirt. Unless you're somehow going for the lumberjack look.
no subject
he sets it back on the rack, folding the shirt over his arm with a sheepish smile back in her direction. ]
Thanks. I haven't really bought anything for myself in a while. [ he offers his other hand out politely. ] J-- Uh. Superman, actually. You just got here, too?
no subject
[ She hasn't done a whole lot of clothes shopping in a while, either. Ever since her grandmother died, she's been a ward of the state, so she hasn't had much in the way of disposable income. ]
Bombshell. [ She smiles back, and shakes his hand, before going back to sifting through the rack of skirts she's been looking at. ] And yeah, I showed up this morning. It's pretty weird, huh?
no subject
he turns his glance toward the front of the store and the people passing by outside, humming an amused noise. ]
Not that weird, unfortunately. It kind of feels like home with the monster-of-the-week mess.
no subject
Eh, you've got a point. But I dunno. It's definitely weirder than the last time I ended up in a new universe.
Central A
Uh, um, probably not the plaid. It looks like something Uncle Jon would wear to fix the tractor. And, um, sorry about this...
[Bart gestures with the leash connected to the cat, starting to try to unvelcro the claws.]
no subject
either way, he's quickly distracted by the cat, and smiles as he crouches to gently help the other teenager free his pet. ] It's okay, what cat worth their claws could resist the cape?
[ he offers his fingers to the little furry beast, then glances back up at the other boy questioningly. ]
Are you from here?
no subject
He has a thing for Supers. Probably because one rescued him as a kitten.
But no, I'm not from here. I'm from...well, I moved around a lot. It's probably a toss-up between Manchester, Alabama and San Francisco where I spent the longest, but my family is from Keystone City.
no subject
Oh, [ he says with a startled blink, bright eyes widening faintly. ] You're, um.. [ awkward. how should he ask this out in public where anyone could be listening? ] .. Fast, right?
[ nailed it. ]
no subject
He shrugs, waving the hand with his Flash ring a little obviously as an acknowledgement.]
You might say that. I'm a friend of Conner's. Bart Allen.
no subject
jon grins, straightening up and dusting himself off, then offering his hand. ] Jon. [ at home, people of course already know his name, but he's not making dimensional or timeline assumptions here just yet. ] It's cool to meet you. Is Conner the other Super here..?
[ he doesn't really care who it is, it's just nice to hear that he has some family around. ]
no subject
Well, he was Superboy back home, but things are more complicated here. Personal stuff.
[Like not wanted to get involved with an organization that historically doesn't see clones as people. Bart won't say that Kon is doing anything, because he can't know it, officially. Stupid Guild.]
You're lucky nobody's hassled you. Not everyone is particularly fond of metahumans. Even if they'll take the guild money fast enough. Did you just get here?
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Central B
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in a flash, he's dropped down to fly backward alongside jason as he grapples between buildings, lifting his hand in a slightly awkward wave. ]
Hey! [ he doesn't really know jason todd, especially not the way he knows damian or dick or even bruce, but knowing him well isn't really the point. it's good to see someone he's familiar with, and maybe jason has some answers about this place. ] Uh, have you got a few minutes?
no subject
Go ahead, fly boy.
no subject
he drifts down to land lightly on the roof with jason, a smile crooking up onto his face. ]
It's Jon. [ it's not like his identity is hidden at home, and anyway, even if jason's some kind of evil alternate, a first name isn't going to give him much to go on. ] I'm just looking for information, really. And if anyone knows what I should know about the guilds and the like.. [ well, it'd be a member of the bat family. ]
no subject
Than who better than someone who comes from a family full of nocturnal paranoid vigilantes. Good thing you saw me. You're not only Super flying around by the way. Don't suppose you know of another Superboy?
[Given how relatively young Jon is, Jason's guessing he's got a legacy codename]
no subject
he perks up at the mention of another super, though. particularly a superboy. ] You mean Kon? [ he's the only superboy he knows, anyway, barring alternate universes. ] He's my-- [ they never had really settled on a title. brother, kind of? he should really ask. ] Well, he's family. He's really here? Is he okay?
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Diadem
Tim hadn’t even planned to come to the hotel bar - he had been heading to the mall across the street in civvies and spied the familiar color scheme through the window. Cape means it’s not Kon, and Kon has dabbling in a new look anyway.
Plans derailed and diverted, he’s taken a seat nearby at the bar to eavesdrop and pretend to play with his phone (more like start firing off texts about the new arrival). The guy looks like Jon Kent, but Tim isn’t about to risk a mistake with Superboy Prime.
At the mention of Bruce, though, he raises an eyebrow. ]
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so he keeps tim drake in his peripheral, and once his brief, polite conversation wraps up, he addresses the other teen. he drops into the seat beside him, ordering a glass of water from the bartender and turning to offer tim a smile and his hand. ]
Hi. I'm Jon. [ he has to assume any bats here are obsessively hiding their identities, but jon can generally afford not to. ] Have I seen you on tv? [ hopefully that gives tim enough room to maneuver in whatever story he's constructed around himself here. maybe tim just has one of those faces. maybe superman's seen the wayne boys in press stuff for gotham. who knows? ]
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Tim.
[ He shakes his hand with a warm smile. ]
And not in this universe. I’d be worried about that sounding arrogant, but I’m certain I’ve seen you on tv for better reasons than family connections or press conferences.
[ Being a Wayne is still the cover of choice, even if the patriarch is an impoverished patrician here. ]
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still, he's happy to shuffle that part to the side and focus on tim instead. ] I thought you looked familiar. Gotham, right?
[ he traces a finger idly through the condensation on the side of the water glass, hooking a booted ankle over the rung of his stool. should he just ask tim to meet him elsewhere where they can actually talk? the staccato beat of his heart has settled, so he clearly recognizes jon. ]
You seem to be doing okay here. I guess you're not new..?
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No, I'm not new. I've been here - eight months? And I had a pretty soft landing, considering that I already had family here and more arrived alongside me.
[ Which is his way of saying that there are plenty of other familiar names and faces here. Like Kon, heck. Tim needs a safe way of saying that he's here, but how it safe at all for him to be Conner Kent if Superman is openly Jon Kent? Already complicated lives just ramped up exponentially. ]
I think this is where I'm supposed to remind you that the smiling and waving is just as important as the rest of it. It doesn't work as well in Gotham, unless you like reading US Weekly. Please tell me that you don't?
[ He doubts its even allowed in the Lane-Kent household, so it's more of a joke. ]
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it would have been nice to show up here in civilian clothes. at least here no one knows who he is, he could be having a completely normal conversation with tim right now.
'and more' could also just.. mean anything, couldn't it? other civilians from their dimension, other heroes. other supers in particular? he wants to ask, but he also doesn't want to put tim on the spot. maybe--
the question makes him laugh, short and bright and startled. ] Oh, God, no. Mom would have a fit. [ and she's only the scariest one. then he'd have to deal with his dad, uncle jimmy, his godfather, jay--
anyway, he has a solution. ] Listen, it's been really nice meeting you, Tim. I'm glad we're all not alone here. [ he jerks his thumb back toward the door. ] Duty calls, though. I'll see you around? [ it's not even a fib, there's so much he could be helping with right now. but more importantly, as he speeds away, tim will find a little note under his hand on the bar with an address and convenient evening time on it.
and if robin chooses to make an appearance later, well, superman's perched on the edge of the roof, legs dangling, waiting politely. ]
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