riverviewooc | riverview: test drive meme

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meme: test drive

riverview: test drive meme

riverview test drive meme

Welcome to Riverview's first test drive meme! Feel free to dip your toes in on the test drive meme to try out your character in the setting, play out a mission, and get samples for your application at the same time!

● Reserves are currently OPEN.
● Applications open on March 1st.
● All threads on the test drive meme can count as game canon once the game is up and running.
● TDM threads do not count for Activity Check, but they do count for Activity Bonus Points.

Feel free to use the prompts below or create your own scenario. The setting is built to be flexible, so feel free to make things up as you go.

information resources
premise ● arrival ● setting ● ask a question ● navigation

prompt i: batten down the hatches

If the sky has seemed a little more yellow-green than usual for the past couple of days, there's a reason for that. Meteorologists have been warning of a particularly nasty storm blowing in from the direction of the Delta in the Southwestern part of the Abandoned City.

The Quarantine is about to be hit by a nasty typhoon, and there's a lot to be done. Whether you're helping sandbag the banks of the river, which is bound to be swollen by the storm and flooding, weatherproofing your building, or just huddling indoors for warmth and helping reassure your friends, family, or partner that everything will be okay, it's time to take action!

prompt ii: monster madness

There's been a lot of talk around the Quarantine about the various predators and monsters outside the fence, and how they've been getting steadily more active, crowding the fences, trying to leap over them, seemingly driven by some kind of mania. There have even been increasing instances of predators that normally mind their own business attacking the fences wholesale, slamming into it over and over as if they're trying to find a weakness.

The good news? The fences have been holding. So far.

The bad news? They won't be holding for much longer.

The Perimeter Guard is in a bad way, and it's all hands on deck. They've also sent out a few of the Perimeter Guard Cadets to post up flyers around the city asking for temporary help in fighting off the beasts. So pick up whatever weapon you're best with, hop onto a truck transport, and head on over to the fences to help drive off the monsters and keep the Quarantine safe.

prompt iii: hold your lover close

With a storm rolling in that's going to keep everyone indoors, that might cause power outages, and is just frankly pretty scary, a lot of the clubs, restaurants, and hotels are doing special events to keep everyone's brains occupied and flooded with endorphins.

There are flyers around the city advertising various couples activities: speed dating, dance classes, overnight pool parties, and all-expenses-paid lovers' nights in.

The catch? The great deals only count if you're a twosome. So if you don't have someone to love, hit up speed dating in the indoor courtyard of Riverview's largest mall, or grab the first person you see and take the opportunity.

prompt iv: solution

After a day or two of storm activity, things are definitely not getting better: the rain is torrential, the monsters are attacking with increased energy and decreased rest times, and the distractions are starting to wear thin. Power outages happen off and on, a very rare situation in Riverview Quarantine.

The government has put out an all-points-bulletin imploring anyone with an exploratory spirit to help.

From what government science techs can tell, the storm isn't natural - after all, even the meteorologists were saying that the pressure systems seemed extremely strange. They've managed to narrow the cause to an area in the delta where the storm seems to be originating from, and are broadcasting the general location so anyone with the guts can head out into the storm and try to find the source of it.

Any characters who decide to penetrate the jungle in search of the source will find a device in the shape of a pyramid, with glowing blue edges about a day's walk into the Abandoned City. The pyramid is a malfunctioning weather control device that is causing wild pressure fluctuations and causing the storm as well as making the animals in the jungle aggressive and erratic. Characters can destroy or deactivate the device to end the storm.

This mission can be threaded out however you would like, in groups however large you would like, and more than one team can accomplish the goal.

prompt v: wildcard/network

Whether you're looking for help with a mission or just want to get to know your fellow new arrivals, your character can make a post to the network.

Or you can choose your own adventure and do something else in the setting!

navigation

Threaded | Flat

[[ooc: app/history in progress here.]]

→ prompt i: batten down the hatches

[Bryn's not the sort to just sit inside and wait for the storm to blow over. Maybe once, she might have been when she was younger, but she's been through too much now to ever be the sort of woman to stand idly by while there's work to be done for the good of the community. Even if she hadn't intended to come to this community at all. While operations are already underway with the methodical moving and stacking of sandbags along the river, there are several buildings in the city that could use some weatherproofing as well.

Bryn, all 5'1" of her, takes it upon herself to start assisting some of the local businesses in weatherproofing their buildings. She's petite, but after her years in the military she's strong and knows how to pace herself. Armed with a two-wheeled cart, she starts stacking sandbags and takes them with her through the city, offering them to every business that seems to need a hand getting ready for the weather ahead.

After a couple of blocks of carting the sandbags around and lugging them into place, she stops in the street and reaches a hand up to wipe her brow. It's something of a workout, getting everything ready, but she understands the value of community effort which is why she does this without complaint. To no one in particular, she voices aloud:]

Anyone got a bottle of water or something on them?

→ prompt ii: monster madness

[She didn't want to be here. She wanted to be back home, safe within the borders of Askoupur. Oh, sure, she knew that if she were back in her own dimension, if she'd never been brought through the portal she'd still be tromping through the jungles of Rhevidjan, hoping to the deities that she wouldn't get caught by the enemy soldiers on her heels. It just doesn't change the fact that at least in that situation she'd only been miles from home. A definitive distance, one she could rationalize in her mind.

At least while she's here, she knows she can be useful. While she's waiting for a way to get home, it's easy to find a place for herself. The call goes out for help against monsters at the perimeter, and Bryn doesn't hesitate to gear up. She dresses, laces up her boots, and begins arming up. The dagger she straps to her thigh is more of a last resort than anything, but it's easier to get in place first than the belt around her waist that holds her kiirium pistol. The kiirium bangle at her wrist accounts for her sword, but she leaves it as it is, untransformed as she slips her worn leather jacket over everything. Assuming she won't need more than her weapons this close to the city, she heads out of community housing to find the nearest transport out.

Inside ten minutes she's seated in the back of a truck with others, looking out the window as they pull onto the road. When that ceases to hold her interest, she turns to the person sitting next to her.]

Haven't heard much about what's out there on the other side of the fences other than "monsters" and other nasty beasts. Heard anything different?

→ prompt iii: hold your lover close

[When it seems like everything's been done that can be done, Bryn has no issues settling somewhere inside for some down time. Rest and relaxation doesn't always mean curling up quietly or alone, however. Given a choice between peace and quiet alone and a social event, anyone who knows her knows exactly what she'll choose. The prospect of the pool parties and an all-expenses-paid lovers' night in sound best to her, but she's still getting to know the other people in the city which means her first stop is speed dating.

She takes time to clean up, dress up, and even accessorize before making her way to the Riverview mall. Once there, she doesn't hesitate to sign up, slap a nametag on, and make her way to the first available table she sees. Getting her mind off the storm by flirting with handsome men is hardly a fate worse than death, even if she didn't expect to go adventuring quite this far beyond the borders of her country.

Fixing the person across from her with a smile, and leans her chin on the heel of her hand, her elbow on the table.]

So, first thing's first. Are you actually looking for companionship or just a partner to go with you for some of those couples' activies they've been advertising around town? [It seems important to make that distinction off the bat. Some people are here to stay, here to build a life. Others are just getting by until they get out. Why start a friendship or more without making sure you're on the same page?]

I. Batten Down the Hatches

Lola might not be, you know, very useful. She's a high school teenager, not even five feet tall, and cares more about coordinating outfits than higher mathematics. But she was basically a sugar high given human form, so she was busily running around the Quarantine making sure of how the supplies have been handed out. Making sure those that are lacking get what they need, and those who have an excess move their supplies to where they might be of more value.

She's more than a little proud of her cute little rain slicker outfit. Even if the heels are probably a poor choice in this state of emergency. Maybe you're looking for a way to help, Lola will direct you where she thinks they need help. Or maybe you're avoiding work, well, careful about that. Lola's got a mean withering gaze.

III. Hold your Lover Close

Lola, in spite of her energy and outgoing nature, is sadly very single. And so many of these activities sound like a blast! She'd love an overnight chance to show off her body in a swimsuit, or any of the nights of dinner and dancing and fun! So she's prowling around for cute lonely people that can take her out for some fun.

"Do you wanna blow off some steam?"

i.

[Ugh, of course this sort of thing has to happen while she's still in the middle of repairs. The place she's fixing up needs a lot of them too - there's a hole in the middle of the roof, for example. It's in a good location and once it's fixed up it'll make a nice place to live. She figured she could do a lot of the repairs herself but she didn't expect a storm of this magnitude to happen before she did.

Luckily Clementine already had tarps around. She figured she'd need them for various things, rain included, but this hadn't been the scenario she'd had in mind. It's careful work, covering up the hole and weighing the ends of the tarp down so the winds don't blow it away. Some parts she straight up hammers in. Better that than having a corner flapping around.

The roof is slick and it's hard to keep her footing. It only takes one misstep for one loose tile to send her tumbling. She lets out a startled cry, sliding down the sloped roof on her stomach. She manages to grab onto the gutter, but the rusty piping is another thing slated for repairs. It's already buckling under her weight, and with her house being two stories there's a bit of a ways to go before she'll hit the ground...]

ii.

[Clementine isn't used to fighting actual monsters. She's used to fighting the risen dead. It was easy to consider those monsters because then you could forget about the fact that they were once human. Walkers were just mindless corpses, all remnants of what they used to be long gone. They were relentless, but slow. If you didn't have to worry about being killed by one of their bites it would be a lot easier to take them out.

The one good thing about the monsters here is that they can't make any more like themselves. If you were bitten by one all you needed to do was clean up the wound and you'd be fine. But most of them were smaller than walkers, and Clementine doesn't have any special powers like a lot of the other residents here. In the face of this threat she once again finds herself feeling small and helpless. She hates that.

At least she has her gun.

She could leave this job for others altogether, but that's not her style. She likes this place and she wants to be able to help protect it. She has good eyes, keen senses, and can fit into spaces a lot of people can't. That's something, at least.]

There's a rusted support on that section over there. [She gestures with the barrel of her handgun.] That whole part of the wall will give if they keep putting pressure on it.

◉ i. batten down the hatches

When he heard about the incoming typhoon and the various ways to volunteer, Ray immediately went down to the river to help sandbag the river banks. He knows his suit won't be of much use here, unless he simply wanted to use it to carry a heavier load. But the fact that doing manual labor like this has the potential to help this city reminds Ray to investigate building some type of shrink ray into the suit itself.

Sure, he can become smaller, but wouldn't it be nice if these sandbags could become smaller too? But then there's the problem of getting them back up to size again ... hm. He'll work on that.

◉ iii. hold your lover close

It's actually surprisingly nice, how many business are putting on special events just to keep everyone's mind off things. He's not exactly used to city's banding together in times of crisis on their own, and not only is it refreshing, Ray finds it admirable. It's what he'd been trying to accomplish with Star City after all, and see a community like this one really look out for each other ... it's ...

Let's just say Ray Palmer is really excited. Especially after all the sandbags he helped move yesterday.

But of course, there's a catch. It's not actually that bad, compared to what he thought he'd have to brace himself for, but oh god Ray is not ready to speed date strangers right now. But if he could just get a friend to play along, maybe the two of them could get an amazing meal and a fun dance class out of this.

◉ iv. solution

"IMPLORING ALL CITIZENS WITH AN EXPLORATORY SPIRIT."

Seriously, it's like this place is just leaving catnip around for people like him. This is when his suit can be useful. It'll keep him dry in the downpour, weather any surprise attacks by monsters or trees, and he can help figure out why the weather's been so haywire for the last three days.

Plus, Ray won't lie. Being about to fly really helps. At least, that gets him over the first wall really easily. The next step is to try and zone in on that broadcast location.

i. batten down the hatches

[Adam can't remember when the sun began setting. He feels like he hasn't slept in days - muscles aching as bad as after a day of hard training, hands grimy and sweat making his shirt cling to the small of his back. But he keeps going, hauling bags of sand to the riverbank, nailing planks to windows, carting food and water to buildings.

Organizing the rescue isn't something he's felt comfortable with - he's a strategist at best, but for fights, not to help. But he couldn't stay idle, sit with his thumbs up his ass and wait for the work to be done. He was the Champion, after all, raised to save the whole world. He wasn't about to stay behind; he couldn't.

But the tiredness was taking its toll on him - movements more sluggish than they'd been in the morning, vision going sometimes blurry when sweat falls into his eyes. He's not paying enough attention, which is how he ends up crashing into someone else, falling back a step or two, and dropping the sandbag he'd been holding over his shoulders, hands outstretched.]

Sorry, sorry! Didn't see you there!

iii. hold your lover close

[This is stupid. He should be out trying to prevent extra damage, but the doors have been locked, everyone asked to remain indoors. Still - it's definitely stupid, that he's finding himself at this speed dating event. He knows he looks awkward, all 6'2'' of him shifting from foot to foot as he waits at the bar for a drink. The nametag with his messy scrawl reading Adam is stuck just above his heart on the grey henley he's decided upon, and he knows that if he really wants to do any of the activities advertised around, he's going to have to go and sit down, talk to someone.

Talk to someone. That really isn't his specialty. But - fine. Some Dutch courage should help, and he downs the straight vodka he ordered just a moment ago, managing to only wince a tiny bit. Taking a deep breath, he approaches the first person he sees, and, putting on his best smile, he holds out his hand as he smiles.]

Hi. I'm Adam.

iv. solution

[The rain is coming down hard, sheets and sheets of hard, cold water that makes visibility difficult. Adam shakes hair out of his eyes, water falling in rivulets along the sides of his face, and he clenches his jaw, tightens his slippery grip around his gun, before turning around to the small ragtag group they've assembled.]

City's this way! [He has to yell over the howling wind and loud patter of the rain hitting the group, but he points to the blurry outline of buildings, indicating the Abandoned City, making his point as best he can. They're almost there.

He starts walking again, taking the lead, but stops dead in his tracks only a moment later. In front of him, growling, obviously rattled and looking ready to pounce, is a mountain lion.]

Shit.

((ooc: I'll match brackets or prose!))

Edited 2017-02-21 11:10 (UTC)

Monster Madness

Merali girls were fighters. Fatima's mother used to tell her that, any time she needed some kind of reassurance. Whether it was scraping her knee on the pavement or dealing with the bullies in her all-white middle school who called her a 'terrorist,' her mother would say the same thing. Merali girls were fighters.

Sometimes it wasn't a soothing affirmation, though. Sometimes, it was a battle cry. Fatima Merali was a fighter. And regardless of her feelings for the place, when the city was under threat of monster attack, she was at the front lines, ready to volunteer to fight back.

Fatima Merali would fight.

There was actually something refreshing and reassuring in the idea of fighting monsters who didn't pretend to be human. As she knelt down to fit a hunting knife into her boot, she thought about the thirteen vampires she'd killed, without Order permission. They'd deserved it, of course. At least, she was pretty sure of it. But from what she'd been hearing, whatever was outside the fence left no ambiguity, no shades of gray.

It would be good, feeling justified and intentional again.

Wildcard

(Throw anything at Tima. Seriously.)

i. batten down the hatches

[some people might dismiss it, but mother nature can still be a force to be reckoned with. steve's willing to bet that that's just as true here. a lot of people are out, trying to get ahead of the storm, and of course he's one of them.]

Need a hand?

[that's the question of the day, whether he's moving heavy bags of sand from point a to point b or boarding up windows. steve lends his strength and stamina to anyone he comes across, finally stopping just long enough to catch his breath and turn wary eyes to the sky.]

We might not have much longer. Do you know where the nearest shelter is?

[he's not asking for himself. steve will probably be out there until the last thing is done or the wind carries him away, whichever comes first.]

ii: monster madness

[he's empty-handed when he jumps onto the transport. maybe, maybe he should've brought a different weapon, but his shield was the only thing he was used to using consistently. without it he's falling back to his old standbys - his fists.

and if that doesn't work, he can just throw himself bodily at the nearest monster.

so far there seems to be no shortage of things that need done here, and steve's actually kind of glad for that. maybe that's just the part of him that's a magnet for trouble talking, but at least he can feel useful. he hops off the truck before it's barely stopped, eyes scanning the fences for signs of anything on the other side.]

So when they say there's monsters...got any ideas what that might mean, exactly?

I. Batten Down the Hatches

Yellow-green skies, Jason Todd is completely fine dealing with; it’s when the skies are burning a deep, angry red that he tends to worry. That’s when shit’s really hit the fan, he knows.

He can’t just sit and wait this storm out, though, and not do anything. It’s never really been the way Jason was built. Not during his earliest days, living on the streets in Gotham City, and certainly not now, after having been a Robin and the Red Hood.

Though he's been helping to weatherproof the buildings, he’s seen enough of storms and hurricanes to know that there’s only so much that humans can do in situations like this. Honestly, at this moment, he’d give anything for one of the many gadgets that WayneTech would be experimenting on - anything that could help the people around him. They’d already seen enough loss and suffering.

“Hey,” he says to the nearest person. “We need a plan B here.” Did they even have tornado cellars here?

II. Monster Madness.

Monsters. Predators. Fighting. Violence. These are things that Jason Todd is more than familiar with, more than comfortable with. For all of his life, it’s always felt as though he’s been fighting one monster or another, one predator or another. So when this opportunity comes along, Jason can’t help but jump right into it. At least he's in his element.

Thankfully, between Bruce, Ducra, and all of the other teachers he’s ever had, Jason’s fairly good with a small variety of weaponry. He’s chosen a couple of guns for this, though, guns having been his chosen weapon ever since he’d returned to Gotham City as the Red Hood. Still, he’s secreted away a couple of knives too, just in case he runs out of bullets or something.

“It strikes me now,” he says, “monsters. Did they mean human-sized monsters, or are we about to face off against like Godzilla and no one has warned us about that yet.” He holds up his two guns. “Because these might not be enough against Godzilla.”

Edited 2017-02-22 05:05 (UTC)

i. monster madness.

[He isn't one to count the days, but he's aware that he's been a while now. It's the longest he's been away from his family that he can remember and that, in itself, is not easy. He misses them more days than not. He's sure everyone here misses someone, but he doubts anyone misses their loved ones like he loves theirs.

It doesn't occur to him that it isn't a competition. Who can miss who the most.

He misses them today especially as he nurses a gun and heads out to face monsters. He wonders what they look like, if they're humanoid like he is. Wonders how they feel, constantly trying to break in through the Quarantine walls. Vaguely, he knows most people are not thinking like he is about this. It's fine.

He turns, thumbing over the handle of his gun and leans in to whoever's next to him with a wry smile: ] Y'think they look like they aliens from Alien?

ii. hold your lover close.

[The first time Benjamin ever went speed dating, he went with his brother. It had been a game to see who would be able to tell them apart. It's not a game tonight: he wants to have fun and all these deals want him to is get drunk and maybe kiss someone. Mostly get drunk.

He slides into the opposite seat with a grin, hair tucked behind an ear. Tonight, there's something deliberately inviting about his smile. Something warm that might put whoever's in front of him feel at ease, or maybe even feel a little unsettled. Not everyone is comforted by Benjamin's Boyish Charm, but that's fine. He can't mind control people like his sister or his parents, but he can at least act a functional human being. ]

Hey, I'm Benjamin, [and, with a hand outstretched:] I like your eyes.

iii. choose your own adventure.

[wildcard it]

i: batten down the hatches

[The storm has finally broken and all that's left to do is huddle inside and wait for it to pass before fixing the damage, not something that Bucky enjoys doing. He's been spending most of his time moving around to various empty buildings, or even sleeping outside, to avoid the vast majority of the population. So being trapped in a shelter with more than a few people is digging under his skin.

He waits until the last minute to slip in the door, dripping wet and causing puddles wherever he chooses to stand. He drops a bag to the floor, voice low.]

I brought food.

[Who knows how long they'll be trapped?]

iv.

The storm wasn't natural? That perhaps wasn't as surprising to Peggy as it might have been, but that's a consequence, she figured, of spending time with the likes of Howard Stark. Nothing seemed impossible now.

"So, who's up for some adventure, chaps?" Because after a few days of sitting in a shelter? Well, Margaret Carter is not cut out for that. She'd rather do something, anything, to help.

( prompt ii )

[ She sits wedged in the back of the truck, musty with the overwhelming whiff of wet grass that's been brought in from the parade of dirty boots. There's indistinguishable talk between the others seated on their benches at the sides of the vehicle but Allison isn't paying too close attention. Mostly because there isn't any useful information to gather. Just some men hollering about how many monsters they're bound to take down when they get to the fences while casting bets on their numbers, all like it's a big game.

It's no game, Allison knows that. She knows well that creatures aren't some fantasy to play hero with, not when she's seen death associated too closely with it. While the men cast their bets, she fingers at her cross bow, making sure the equipment is in decent condition. It'll be the first time she gets to put it in action since she's been here.

She isn't exactly a professional with weapons, not like her dad is, but she knows them well enough to know how to work the triggers and adjust the pieces for cleaning. But when the truck hits a bump, possibly a cluster of rocks with the way the entire thing wobbles, the string of the bow snaps back on her fingers forcing her to instinctively draw her arm back.

But the sudden reflex angles her elbow towards the person seated next to her, accidentally landing a hard jab into their ribs. Wide eyed, Allison looks to her side at the unfortunate victim. ] Damn it — sorry!

( wild card )

[ The lights go out, of course they do. She hadn't even considered staying in the apartment. Nothing good would come of sitting around and waiting for this situation to resolve itself. But with the weather harsh outside and no way to step out without the harsh pressure of a gust keeping her from taking a few steps, waiting it out indoors seemed like a decent idea at the time. Now? Power outage. ]

Great. Fantastic. [ With a snappy tone to no one at all, she marches out into the hallway, picking a door at random before giving it a few firm knocks. Who even lives there? Probably should have made a few friends before the weather catastrophes. ] 'Scuse me! You have any candles?

( super wild card )

( throw out a miscellaneous prompt at allison! will match brackets or prose ♥ )

→ prompt ii: monster madness

[Wanda doesn't need a weapon. She steps onto the transport truck in her uniform, empty handed. That same sense of anticipation settles over her, makes her skin hum and her nerves spark as the vehicle rolls into motion. She looks around her at all of the unfamiliar faces, and part of her thinks she ought to get to know them a little on the way. Get their names, perhaps, or discover what their skills are. Steve would approve, Natasha too, wouldn't they? To assess her allies in this battle and figure out where she might be of most use, or whose back might need protecting more than the others.

She's new to this herself, however, having fought humans and human-shaped robots. Never monsters, never creatures without sentience.

Besides, she still hasn't gotten used to the fact that each time she goes into a fight, it's without Pietro by her side. So, she stays quiet, at least until the truck hits a pot hole sending everyone flying all over everyone else. Wanda finds herself flung hard against the person next to her and she pushes her hands out to catch herself before she topples over entirely. Righting herself, she fixes them with a quick look, a brief nod.] Sorry. Roads must be rougher the further out we get.

[Just how much rebuilding does this city need?]

→ prompt iii: hold your lover close

[They've locked up the city tight against the weather, as best they can. They've fought the monsters at the gates. Everything they could do has been done, and all that's left is to just sit everything out. Wanda doesn't mind curling up alone, if she has to, but distracting herself seems the better option.

Unfortunately, it seems that most of the deals and activities around the city seem to be open only to pairs. It's implied that it's couples but Wanda supposes a friend would probably work as well, right? The prospect of speed dating doesn't really appeal to Wanda, but she finds herself wandering by the courtyard where they're holding the event all the same. Sticking to the perimeter, she watches others put their name tags on, settling at tables and chatting each other up, and from the outside it all seems simple enough.

She talks well with others one on one but this group setting with a purpose known at the outset seems awkward at best.

But a pool party does sound like it could be fun and she's never enjoyed one before. Pursing her lips together after a moment, she approaches the desk where they're processing in speed-daters and gets herself her own shiny new name tag. It simply says "Wanda" on the white sticker, placed at her shoulder. Surveying the others around her, not yet willing to dive in, she glances over to another person processing in, pushes herself to speak up.] Have you ever done anything like this before?

i: batten down the hatches

Derek doesn't like the look of the sky and the weather report sounds like it might be playing down a tiny bit by calling it a storm. He might not know from experience, but Derek's heard that green skies mean tornados. "Nasty storm" seems a little generous if that's truth rather than myth.

But he'll take it over Berserkers or terrorism. Without question.

There are plenty of people, it looks to him, working on the buildings to board up the windows and fortify what they can, but when he overhears someone mention that they're going to the river Derek wanders after them. Seeing that the effort at the river is sandbagging to try to keep the river from flooding, Derek figures this is where he belongs. He can carry heavy sandbags and barely feel it.

"Do you need some help with that?" he asks, noting someone struggling a little to balance their sandbag and themselves at the same time. He hefts the two he's got onto his shoulder and, while holding them in place with one hand, offers his other arm to help them out, either by taking their bag as well or helping lift their bag up onto their shoulder the way he's done his; Derek feels like it's easier to carry that way.

ii: monster madness

To say that Derek isn't at least a little bit interested in the increased and more aggressive predator activity at the fence would be an understatement. He's handled a lot of things with not a whole lot of effort, but that's typically because he has a general idea of what he's going up against before he actually has to, you know, go up against it. He knows nothing about these creatures. Just because they look like familiar beasts doesn't necessarily mean that they are, so an offense doesn't feel like a good idea.

Which, unfortunately, leaves a defense. While reactive response is Derek's usual go-to, that doesn't necessarily mean that he actually prefers it. It just always seems to sort of happen that way.

Derek hops off the truck and moves away from it, scenting the air subtly, head high. He's trying to figure out if maybe he does already know the creatures they're fighting. It's possible. Brow creased with the failed attempt to find something familiar, Derek starts to move toward the fence. He's got his laser gun still in the bulky pocket of his orange jumpsuit — he cannot wait to get new clothes and get rid of this stupid goddamn thing — but the likelihood that he'll use it is low. It's a shame he couldn't get his hands on one of those freeze rays before he got out of there… To someone who doesn't know better, he probably looks like he's planning on trying to join the fight with his bare hands. That's not...entirely inaccurate. It's just that his bare hands come with claws that he's a lot more comfortable fighting with than a pistol.

ii: solution

Derek might not possess an "exploratory spirit" but what he does possess are keen senses that could potentially be helpful to those who do have an exploratory spirit. Nobody's tried to kill him for being himself since he's arrived, so he's feeling a lot more inclined to help where he can than he would've done back home or in the Complex.

Heading out into the rain, Derek looks around for a group that hasn't already started off on an expedition yet and, attempting to shake the water out of his hair, he approaches the person closest to him on his way toward who he perceives to be the leader.

"Are you guys going out? I want in."

Edited 2017-02-23 13:52 (UTC)

i. batten down the hatches!

[ She's useful and it's ... nice. Sobering up in the hospital post-arrival (not to mention post-tentacle monster, courtesy of Amora) has left Sylvie quieter than usual despite donning the only other outfit in her magical wardrobe that seems fitting for lending a heroic hand; also, Amora isn't around to cast her off into a sucker-themed Hel again, which has a lot to do with the spiteful donning of green and gold.

Here, in this realm a universe apart, she can be the Enchantress. Five years to go and this is Sylvie putting her best (uncertain) foot forward by assisting in the mundane tasks that have everyone else rallying together, yearning to forget the Red Hood's bullshit plans that made her a joke in Asgard. Here and now, she watches as strangers lift sandbags together, new friends being made in real-time before her eyes. (I can do this too, I'll impress them.) Sylvie levitates thirty bags and blockades the windows and doors of a whole street in a green lightshow that dazzles for a block ... and then various residents start banging on their own doors from the wrong side, annoyed they can't get out. ]

... Oh, shit. Sorry! [ Running to the nearest door her first instinct is to start yanking down the sandbags by hand, yelling to her irritated homeowners. ] It's okay, I'm going to get everybody out!

[ If someone helps her stop fretting about screwing up on her first try, maybe that will go faster. ]

ii. monster madness.

When do we break for lunch? Are we attacking in, like, waves?

[ Easy for the magical girl flying overhead to be blase about driving off monsters when she keeps turning them into frogs, but perhaps she's forgetting to sympathise with her fellow perimeter guards. As a ravening beast launches itself forward, she catches it in midair in a simmering glow of eldritch power (does it smell like ozone around here?) and transforms it into a kitten. It mews indignantly, falling at the feet of someone nearby (congrats, it's your new pet!). ]

I could really go for a cronut, you know?

iii. hold ur luvver close.

[ Far more confident after days spent healthily alive and not blown up post an unscheduled visit from Amora, Sylvie wears her nametag (ENCHANTRESS) with pride and nurses a glass of wine at the bar before setting off into the wild unknown of speed-dating. She doesn't want to fall off the wagon again like she did with the Illuminati, but a little alcohol can't hurt. ]

Hey, [ if this is your table she's commandeering, then hi, ] so, are you hoping to scam a free dinner-date or something fancier out of this?

[ Because she's down for suggestions. ]

→ when you tell a pirate to batten

[The differences in enduring the storms of Nassau are not so significant in this foreign place that Flint feels his expertise to be lacking. All things begin the same. There are no sails to stow, no rigging to lash, but the backbreaking work of irrigation ditching and the filling of sandbags still needs done.

He tosses a shovel to the nearest able-bodied person. Male or female, storms hardly discriminate and in this, neither does he.]

You there. Give me a hand with this.

[His tone is firm, authoritative. Obviously not a man used to hearing go fuck yourself (though there has been plenty of that in his life, it's usually ignored or rescinded at the point of a sword where necessary).]

→ 'all my friends are dead' but lovers are dandy too

[Flint was forged by circumstance, McGraw by the happenstance of life. Neither are needed here, strictly speaking, in the capacity he is accustomed to existing. He discusses nothing with no one who does not earn his confidence, but he knows what it is to integrate seamlessly into a thing. Once, it was the Navy. Then piracy, then captaincy. He cannot liberate Nassau from a world beyond worlds. One cannot keep a promise when one is removed from its place of reckoning.

His manners are not so courtly now as they once were. But he makes token appearances when and where people expect. In this instance: dance lessons. He has not bothered keeping up to date with London's fashions, but Miranda (and Thomas) enjoyed the baroque styles of the courts. They spent more than one evening together in step to music only they three could hear. The man he used to be even came to enjoy it.

Now, it serves as only one thing: a way to learn. No spy, no turncoat he. But in lieu of a brothel, any place that encourages fraternization is the next best place for information, and Flint can be charming when put to task.

He has no reason to expect this place is any kinder about men asking another man to dance here than it was in the golden age of piracy, so he focuses on the women that enter the hall and eventually picks one out.]

Beg pardon. [Hell, he even dredges up that old London elocution.] May I have this dance?

[if approached by a man, he would politely but firmly turn them down, though it might inspire him to ask questions about how freely it was done.]

Edited 2017-02-24 02:38 (UTC)

batten down the hatches;
The wind was picking up, and though the weather here was strange, Amir could still feel the changes in the air. In the morning, it felt as though the ends of her hair were all standing up on end. She helped as she could, but sooner or later found herself drawn outside despite the cold.

The sky looked the color of newly-arrived spring greens, when burgeoning sprouts rose at last to meet the yellow sun. On impulse, Amir climbed lightfooted up a row of sandbags to take in the sight of the river. She could see more, feel more from up here!

solution;
Amir kept herself busy, taking on informal turns watching the fences but also spending time inside, making large batches of flatbreads, dumplings, and other dishes heavy with meat and cheese. Though some might eschew such things during busy times, it was important to keep up both strength and heart -- food was an integral part of that, and surely others would take on the cause of the disturbance. The perimeter guards, for instance?

Yet she felt unrest. Distracted, as she handed a plate of food to a neighbor. "If anyone can help..." she said to herself.

i. batten down the hatches

[It's only been a few days since he arrived here, was released from the hospital after being pulled back from death. He shouldn't have survived, but somehow, he's here. It's been a bit of a struggle, honestly, keeping himself occupied in the face of everything that he just went through - the kidnapping, everything with Iris, his own death.

It's terrible, but he's almost a little relieved when the reports of a storm come in.

Eddie is a natural leader, and it isn't long before he's found his way to a small park where people are bringing supplies to hand out in anticipation of the storm, and started making order of the chaos.]

Hey, thanks for helping out. [Lifting his head, he offers a wide, warm smile.] What've you got to help out there?

ii. monster madness

[Eddie's not really a fighter by nature. Of course, he's not afraid to draw his gun when he has to, but he only does it when he has to, to protect himself, or the innocent. He isn't the kind of guy who fights just for fighting's sake.

But this seems to be a pretty clear-cut case of protecting the innocent.

So he climbs onto one of the transports, takes the quick training class on how to use a laser cannon (an actual laser cannon - Cisco, Barry, or Felicity would probably be totally losing it over this, even if it's a little lost on him) and heads up onto the platform the Guard uses to patrol. It doesn't really seem real, more like a scene out of a bad sci-fi movie, at least until he sees the rain-streaked leathery hide of what looks like a cross between a velociraptor and a 12-foot tarantula.]

Holy crap! Do you see that thing?!

iii. hold your lover close

[This is probably a really stupid idea. Fresh out of a relationship of over a year, and a little uncertain about the status of his recent engagement considering he'd died is not exactly a good mindset for checking out couples' activities.

The problem is, all those things that make his mindset a little weird are the same things that make him want a good distraction. And it really seems like you can't go to the pool party alone, you can't check out any of the good restaurants alone, and there are a dozen other things you just...can't do alone. The weather outside is too bad to leave, too, so Eddie's left standing a little lamely in the atrium in the mall, looking around at the passers-by. Finally, he sucks it up, takes a breath, and reaches out a hand to someone walking by - male, female, it doesn't matter.]

Heeyyy...you interested in the pool party?

iii.
[If you're in the mall, you may notice that there's a car watching the speed dating. At first glance it might seem like a prize to be won, one of those mall raffles so ubiquitous that they apparently transcend universes. Closer examination reveals this car to be somewhat... off scale for the humanoid residents of the Quarantine, just a little too small to feel right, and incongruent with the local style of vehicle design to boot.

Also, its engine is running quietly and it appears to be... chuckling to itself? Well, that could always be the driver, who's apparently chosen to idle their vehicle inside the mall for some reason-- and is hiding behind heavily smoked glass on all the windows. Hm.

A promoter walks by, handing out fliers advertising a freebie mystery dinner theater performance to anyone who will take one. They knock on the driver's side window of the car, but there's no response, so they shrug and tuck a flier under one of the vehicle's windshield wipers.

As soon as the promoter has wandered away, said wipers flick furiously until the paper is dislodged, and the car grumbles audibly:] Skinjobs need to keep their hands to themselves.

iv.

[Knock Out wouldn't exactly call himself a cyb with an "exploratory spirit", but he was a cyb who resents both being cooped up and the threat to his finish and his undercarriage presented by the relentless storm. When the government begins broadcasting their theory about the source of the storms and their request for citizens to shut it down, well, Knock Out is more than willing to help.

"Help" in this case meaning "strike out for the Abandoned City on his own, because he's a strong and capable Cybertronian who doesn't need to be saddled with useless skinjobs". (Knock Out's capable of being a team player, but only when he believes in the team. Sorry, squishies.) He thought it would be a breeze-- power through the jungle, avoid the organic monsters, determine and deal with the source of the storm, return a hero. Easy.

Only not so easy, really. The slick mud produced by the rain sucks at his tires and alt mode and his feet in root; the jungle is thick and oppressive in the torrential rain and it feels like the foliage itself is trying to bar his passage; the monsters are more plentiful and more aggressive and more powerful than he'd anticipated. He'd planned to drive there but the roads of the Abandoned City, where they can be discerned at all, are impassible, and his gleaming red paintjob is drawing the attention of the jungle's beasts like a beacon.

His forward progress towards the coordinates has halted completely, the Cybertronian finding himself beset by monsters. He'd managed to hold off the initial attack-- his plating spattered with gore and his hands replaced by two wicked buzzsaw blades, the messy remains of a few of the creatures standing in testament to his efforts-- but he and the monsters are at an impasse now. Occasionally, one or another of the beasts will feint at him, but his sensors are operating at maximum capacity and his reflexes are good. He's holding them off.

But for how long?

Much as he'd hate to admit it, he could use some help right now-- the real kind, involving other people. Even squishy people.]

ii. Of flags and fences

[Steve doesn't hesitate when he hears that the fences are in trouble. He hops right on a truck and heads to the edge of Quarantine, joining the other volunteers. When they arrive, he can see why so many flyers are being handed out. The Perimeter Guard is holding back what looks like a siege, with movement well beyond what he can see from inside the fences, indicating a countless number of-]

What are they?

[The creatures surrounding them aren't humans or animals that Steve has seen before. He asks a nearby Perimeter Guard the question, hoping to find out about these monsters before they decide to charge. Know your enemies' habits. Figure out how they think and use that. Not so easy to do when you've never seen beasts like them before. Steve joins the rest of the group trying to repair the damage done to the fence while there's a pause in the fight. It's a race against time before the next attack.]

iii. Well, this is awkward.

For the last time-

[Steve has said that a couple times already, to no avail. The man passing out flyers is especially persistent, throwing an arm over the blonde's shoulder as he pushes the eighth colorful ad into his hands.

Aw, come on, buddy. A guy like you? You've gotta have plenty of girlfriends. Or make some new friends. Show them a good time!

The hard-sell is quickly leading to Steve losing his patience. He's trying to help everyone, but this method is definitely not his forte. He looks around, finally just desperate enough to silently beg for help from a bystander. Please, give him an excuse to throw this overly eager promoter off so he can escape without physically shoving him away? He might even play date just for the chance to breathe again.]

iv. I saw this on a movie once

[The storm isn't improving and the call goes out for people to risk the wilds in order to find the source of the problem. Of course Steve is going to volunteer. He joins the group as they face the jungle, fending off the wildlife and avoiding sinkholes caused by the excess rain. When they reach the strange device, Steve has no clue how to even open it.]

I hope you're a technician.

(ooc: For prompt iv, I'm up for more people in one thread. If you'd like to make it a three or four person thread, hop in? Or we can do pairs.]

1 - Hurricane Party

Three thousand nine hundred and fifty six beers on the wall, tthousand nine hundred and fifty six beers...

[She's singing to herself in the tavern- oooh, sorry your royal future selves, bar- but it's very much at room filling volume. She's not much for keeping quiet, especially when a bit pissed (in both senses of the word). She'd been off saving the world, yeah? Then here. In weirdo land, where it's raining and all she can really do is drink up and wait out the storm.]

Three thousand nine hundred and fifty five beers...

IV - Hit it until it works again

[Lucky her, bows and arrows weren't exactly genius work. They may have taken her nice and fancy ones when she dropped in and ended up getting healed, but they couldn't much stop her from rigging up her own. Sticks, string, point things. Simply. So when her group comes across the evil magic pyramid making everything suck, Sera has the answer: arrows. She's got one notched the moment she sees the place, and lets fly before saying a word. It's only as she reloads that she speaks up.]

Kill it!

I
[He's never really said much the whole time he's been here, some things simply do not change from one world to the next. Besides an initial angry demand that he be returned to his home at once, only to be told that such a thing might not be possible for some time. Though his frustration hadn't abated entirely he had at least resolved himself to do what he must. Whatever world he was on, there were those in need here and he was bound to aid them however he could. At least for the time being. Besides, if the portal could transport a person across worlds perhaps it could also transport them across time.

So when the warnings of the storm came, Jack was right there in the thick of it. Lending his strength to the efforts. Whether that's stacking sandbags, lashing ropes to shore up walls and structures or leaping from nowhere to brace a load somebody's struggling with.

Toward the end of the day he'll move off to the side with a simple meal of stew and bread. Should he see somebody emptyhanded, he'll pause before offering up half of the bread to them.]

Here. It is important for everyone to keep up their strength.

II
[Now this was sadly nothing new. Monsters and beasts terrorized every corner of the world he called home and this place is no different from the looks of things.

Upon his arrival it hadn't taken long to hear tales of a pack of savage predators that struck from a deep, dark patch of forest only to vanish again before the Guard could snare them. Fortunately, a plan had been devised to capture the pack, however the plan required a volunteer to act as bait. A risky task that nobody had dared volunteer for. Until now.

Dressed only in a plain white gi, sandals and armed only with a simple sword, the Samurai stepped out beyond the safety of the walls. Rain dripped from the straw hat he wore on his head as he surveyed the trees before him. Then he turned his back. Sat. And waited.

He could play his part and, he trusted, so would his allies at the wall.]

III
["We need somebody just like you! It's super important!"

That had been how the request had been framed. As something of fire importance to the security and wellbeing of the people in the Quarantine. And, well, when phrased in such a way how could he possibly refuse his help? He couldn't, that's how. So he'd agreed readily, prepared to confront whatever danger or hardship awaited--

And now he's seated at a folding table, behind blinking in confusion at the bizarre setup and glancing down at the card in front of himself that simply read "Jack."]

I... do not understand. What is the meaning of this?

[Perhaps he should have asked what exactly "speed dating" was before he agreed to this.]

prompt i: batten down the hatches

Were it maybe a year earlier Letha would be out in the storm, singing gaily for gods she didn't believe in to do their worst. But she is an adult now, a pregnant one at that, and she has the sense not to put her child in danger for sport. While not a conventionally sociable person, Letha has holed herself up in the corner of a public building, and is shivering on the floor with her hands wrapped protectively over her belly. This is her way of seeing if there's anyone around kind enough to lend her a hand.. she doubts she'd get that much from hiding in her room alone.

prompt iii: hold your lover close

She'd followed the crowd out of curiosity, but she feels distinctly out of place in this crowd. Everyone is celebrating some joyous version of love that she's never seen people talk about, and here she is, a meek little woman in maternity garb from two centuries ago, trying not to feel too bitter about how nice everything was. Aristeo would have loved to go dancing with her... if they were the sort of dances the farmhands had that were loud and lasted into the night, not the sour affairs their family hosted that stopped at exactly ten. It feels so very wrong to be here without him while his child is inside of her... but despite herself she keeps glancing around, wondering if someone will ask her to dance.

[Prose is generally my pref, but I'll be happy to match brackets!]

ii. monster madness

It is not that Morrigan enjoys tossing herself into danger, but she would prefer not to see the city overrun. She already has complaints about being uprooted and brought here; she would prefer not to die in a massacre before she can return home. Becoming a member of the Guard was not for her, but this is closest she has yet seen this place to a crisis and while she has little affection for her surroundings so far it seems worthwhile to lend her assistance.

And in truth, channeling her frustration into a little beneficial destruction will feel satisfying.

She is barely off the transport before the severity of the situation becomes clear. A small handful of people scatter, yelling, as a section of the fence is breached. One of the creatures lunges into view, snapping its fierce teeth. "Get down!" she calls out in warning to the stranger before her, flame leaping from the palm of her hand. The beast lets out an agonized roar as the ball of fire hits its jaw.

iii. hold your lover close (sort of)

The phrase 'speed dating' means little to her, of course, and while she resents the fact that several of the activities going on in the city right now seem to require pairs she feels unwilling to volunteer for whatever this is without knowing exactly what it means. Curious, she goes near the advertised location in the inner courtyard and positions herself a short distance away, her arms crossed over her chest and her golden eyes watchful. Men and women go from one partner to the next, making what she can only imagine is awkward small talk until their short time is up and they must move on.

It does not take her long to notice that she is not alone in watching the process, but several minutes pass before she speaks to her fellow observer. "It seems more like a subtle form of torture than an effective catalyst for romance."

monster madness

[ Sam's starting to get itchy feet. Yeah, he'd gone years without fighting - quite happily, in fact - while getting his degree and working at the VA. But the problem with hanging around Steve Rogers is that you get used to the adrenaline real fast - being an Avenger, even more so. He won't claim to be an adrenaline junkie, per se, but he likes the high, likes the satisfaction he gets from a job well done.

So when the call goes out for help, Sam suits up fast enough, and before long, he's heading out to the Perimeter. He opts to scout from above, occasionally perching on large tree branches (not unlike his namesake) and sending Redwing out to do the recon for him. And it's on one of these branches that he spots a distant monster heading for another fighter on the ground - not yet visible because of some obstacle in their path, but very much so from where Sam is. He lets out a low whistle, calling out quietly to the person on the ground:]

Heads up - one coming at you from your ten o'clock.

[ He waits to see what they'll do before choosing his own plan of attack - whether he'll stay up here and fire, or swoop in and take the creature on at a close range. Or maybe a third option? ]

hold your lover close

[ Sam might not be looking for anything permanent, but a temporary arrangement to enjoy some amenities? That suits him just fine. He's smiling and charismatic as he slides into the seat across from someone, taking a sip of the glass of water he has with him. ]

So. My name's Sam, I'm a Libra, and- [ He glances briefly down at the list of icebreaker topics they've given him - all completely ridiculous, of course. ] Which of the seven dwarves are you most like?

[ Yeah. This is totally going to get him laid. ]

Threaded | Flat

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bryn zethir | original

Lola Pacini | Degrassi

Clementine | The Walking Dead (Telltale)

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