etcelsior | KEEP THE MUSIC DOWN

Entry tags:

KEEP THE MUSIC DOWN

TEST DRIVE MEME

Considering apping into MASK OR MENACE? Want to dip your toes into the setting and get a feel of whether your character will fit into it? Or maybe you're just cruising and want to play around? Then you've come to the right place!

Pick any of the following scenarios below or feel free to make up your own, but don't be afraid to throw yourself at anyone's thread, either!

And remember to have fun!

01. Your memory is hazy and you might feel increasingly frustrated or anxious, or maybe you're excited as soldiers march past, barely glimpsing you. One second you're somewhere underground, the next you're enveloped in blue light, and suddenly you find yourself directly under Florida sun's bright and burning glare. A female soldier steps toward you with a wide smile on her face and directs you to a car, ready to debrief you. You realize you are not the only one, surrounded by equally confused or eager faces... and you're all sporting a digital tattoo on your wrist.

02. Welcome to Cape Canaveral, where the smell of the ocean is in the air and locals are more than pleased to see new imPorts roaming their streets. They wave, they cheer, they ask for pictures as politely as they can. The more inhuman you look, or if you're wearing a costume, the more likely locals are to approach. Hey, enjoy the moment! The popular malt shop is offering you a free drink if you need it.

03. The technology in this world is certainly something. The cars are clearly modeled after popular 50s cars, but they hover several feet above the ground as they drive down the street. There are digital jukeboxes in restaurants, motorcycles also hover through traffic, advertisements can be seen on a digital projector on the taller buildings. Even kids on skateboards appear to drift a safe ten feet off the ground while playing!

04. Wherever you are, you can hear the loud revving of an engine, distance at first before you finally see it: a hovercar bursting around the corner, going beyond the maximum speed limit and just barely making its sharp turn. It doesn't appear to be slowing down any time soon, not with two police cars trailing it... and uh oh. Those skateboarding kids don't have much time to get out of the way as the car comes speeding down the road. You've been brought here for a reason Hero — so you better act fast.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

1.
Ysvali was infinitely curious about the mortal realm which was what had led her to find a human magi to summon her to their realm. She'd laughed in the magi's face and rushed off to find her own way, to satisfy her own curiosity. Unfortunately she didn't get far before everything shifted on her. She recognized the feeling of being transported across the veil but what greeted her on the other side was both fascinating and strange to her.

There were humans, she wasn't surprised by that, but the look of everything was nothing like that of Bangrahr or the mortal realm of her world. Everything was a distraction as she tried to take it all in, only half hearing what was said to her. She only came to a complete stop when she pushed into the bright Florida sun. She cringed and covered her eyes until they adjusted to the light. Momentary blindness passed and all she could do was look around with her mouth slightly agape.

"This isn't what I had in mind when I wanted to see a new world." Her lips pressed together as she stared at one the vehicles that passed by. What the hell was that thing? She wasn't sure if she should be afraid of it or what. Although the reaction from others around her to the vehicles suggested they were perfectly normal. Still strange, however.

3.
The young ifrit hadn't quite settled into this new world, everything was strange and exciting but also a tad frightening at the same time. She found she didn't like the cars much, they were far too cramped within. Most of the buildings weren't any better, cramped quarters compared to what she was used to back home. She also didn't like the fact that she actually had to be covered by the ridiculous clothing of this world. Sure, she'd shown up in a pair of short, baggy pants and unbuttoned shirt, as well quite a bit of jewelry but apparently that wasn't enough. These things called shoes were expected to be worn and shirts were meant to be buttoned so they didn't blow open. She hated it and, naturally, was refusing to do anything expected of her.

So Ysvali wandered, barefoot, through the streets. She paused every so often to take in her surroundings and all the strange human things about her. She avoided the street if at all possible, she didn't trust those cars. But the hover skateboards looked like a lot of fun and that's what she decided to go after. The kids playing with them seemed more than willing to share after showing her how the boards worked.

Now, this was a dangerous thing to give the young djinn. She had little regard for those around her and sped off on the skateboard, not really watching where she was going. Hopefully anyone else walking around was paying attention.

((feel free to respond in prose or brackets, I'm cool with either))

[This had started out distressingly familiar. There's a particular quality of air in Florida- not the best best to groggily come to in, unaware of just how you've traveled. Michael would really prefer somewhere drier. But for familiarity, it's hard to beat.

Not that familiar is comforting, especially not given these tattoos. Still, for now the safest option appears to be to go along with it until he can get more information. These people may clearly be insane, but they also clearly have some impressive capabilities.]

So, [He turns to the person next to him with a wide smile that looks plastered on.] been to Florida before?

I.
[As far as standing out in a crowd goes, Lambda accomplishes that well with her robot-like appearance. So, it's no surprise that she should find herself fielding a fair bit of attention from the locals, imposing weaponry or not.]

[Despite the lack of emotion in her expression and the cool monotone of her voice, though, she actually appears to be one of the imPorts handling the attention most poorly. She doesn't seem quite sure what her response to the natives should be, and there's something oddly skittish about her demeanor, like an easily spooked animal. In truth, her databanks simply lack of information on the correct protocol for social situations like this, and as a result, she's overwhelmed trying to keep up.]

[Maybe she could use some help? Though it might be good to avoid startling her more than she already has been; she was built for combat, after all.]

II.
[Lambda doesn't seem quite sure about the malt shop, either. She's staring at her free drink the way most people would a large book in an incomprehensible language.]

[???? What does she do with this.]

[There's a teenage girl crouched down on the sidewalk next to a car. Her clothes aren't the best- rumpled and grease-stained cargo pants and t-shirt, and a pair of mechanics gloves she keeps idly fidgeting with, drawing them up further.

She's looking under the car, at its components, and at the street itself. As she raises her right hand to rub the back of her head, she mumbles.] But how does it work...

[He isn't enjoying the moment. He's been winding away from the main streets, the people asking for pictures, the attention, keeping the long sleeves of his shirt over his wrists. There's no reason to assume this is real, but there's also no reason to attract more notice. He doesn't want the notice he has.

He could use a coffee, though. Is there a shop around here?]

[Guess who doesn't give a shit about the heat. Guess who doesn't give a shit about the sudden overnight popularity? Guess who does give a shit about her personal space.

Hands in the pockets of her leather jacket, her lips remain flat and her eyes covered by a pair of sunglasses when she senses someone approach and clearly announces:]

Touch me and I will punch your fucking dick off.

[Even if you don't have one.]

[Maybe some people were given the chance to have a little more dignity when they were pulled in - as it is, Peter was brought in with nothing but a t-shirt and his underwear, remote control still in his hand.]

... Nope - nope. Not this dream again. [Lips pressed, shaking his head, he reaches for the free arm to pinch himself awake.] This isn't happening. Nope.

I can't believe it - the ocean! [And yes, that was practically a squeal, not words.] What a delightful surprise!

Oh, [she clasps her hands together, perfect red curls flying behind her as she turns her head,] Do you think we could possibly go for a swim? It's been so long! But, [brows pinched, lips concerned,] Oh dear, I forgot to bring a swimming suit with me!

What do you think you're doing?! You can't just - this is kidnapping! I will call the authorities. [what is this someone stepping closer to try and calm her down] Don't you touch me, you brutes!

[ dexter looks over blankly, hating when guys try to play this game. it's like michael's not even trying with that smile. also he might be a little grumpy!!!!!!! ]

What do you think? [ the guayabera and khakis should say it all, in his opinion. ]

[ he watches the hovercar-chase with detached boredom, though under the surface it's as thrilling as any miami car chase would be. something about it taking to the sky took away from some of the bloodlust, however, and for that reason, dexter quickly lost interest, sipping on his mango batido and squinting into the sun.

business as usual, y'all, though the tattoo was itchy or something. maybe that was just a mild irritation manufactured by his own mind, but no matter -- this smoothie was just as delicious as back home. and the guayabera he wore with its tribal drummer repeating pattern in bright orange and green was still his favorite.

it was a good day to be floridian, freaky jetson's world aside. ]

[Jokes on you Linh, Hans doesn't even know how to drive a car in the first place. But, he's coming back home from work (wearing sensible jeans and a t-shirt instead of his over the top princely regalia) and manages to catch Linh's mumblings as she stares at the car.]

If I knew, I'd tell you, [he responds, with a weak smile.] I don't even know how to drive these things.

[hey, when Michael thinks this is worth actually trying for, he'll try. but first he's going to have to buy into a lot more of this whole situation.]

Native. [it's an observation, not a question.]

[Cinder starts, instinctively drawing back a little bit and checking that her left pant leg and boots are covering the steel there. But after a moment she forces herself to relax- there's not as much reason to be afraid here. Is there?

She taps the side of the car with her knuckles.] It seems a lot like the hovers we have, but it looks like it doesn't work the same way at all.

[ he supposes he can understand not expelling the energy when you don't have to, but still. it's in bad form or something. ]

Ding ding ding ding.

2

[Inamongst the festivities, a fairly ordinary looking man is watching the crowds with what appears to be the vague interest of someone who's found themselves somewhere with nothing better to do and no means of leaving early.

He's even found himself a box of popcorn, and anyone observant enough will spot the tattoo on his wrist, which he's making no effort to conceal.

Funnily enough, all the smiling locals who approach with cameras seem to leave without having taken any pictures with the man.

At some point, when he's found or been approached by another imPort he'll ask-] Is it always like this?

[Michael nods briefly.]

What area?

Miami. [ is there another area??? dexter doesn't think there should be. keys? fuck the keys! ]

[As Cinder draws back, Hans gives her a warm smile, the sort of smile designed to say 'hey, I'm not threatening.']

You'd know more about that than I would, [he replies, with a little shrug.] I've never even seen a car before I arrived here.

[Franklin's starting to slowly piece together what's going on. He doesn't know how the fuck it happened, but something the fuck happened. The green-collared rotweiller walking next to him never seemed to mind, at least. Franklin glanced over at the hulking drool machine next to him and, after a sigh, reached out to scratch his head.]

Guess we ain't in Kansas anymore, Chop.

[Just then, a car pulled up. No, that wasn't the right word. More like it floated to a stop next to the sidewalk. It hovered for a moment, then slowly settled itself to the ground.

Franklin stared.]

The fuck is...?

[The owner of the car flicked the engine off and stepped out. Franklin could barely bother to wait until she walked up the steps to the apartments behind him. As soon as the door closed behind him, Franklin peeled himself off the steps and jogged towards the car. Chop followed behind, nose pointed in the car's direction.

Franklin kneeled in front of the car with an obvious mix of perplexity and admiration in his eyes. He ran a sleeve-covered hand across the door. Finally, he gave out an astonished laugh.]

Flying fuckin' cars? Now I know I'm in a comic book.

[ Who could possibly enjoy all this noise?

The transition from what could only be called the afterlife in his world to the very jarring reality of a corporeal existence is disconcerting to say the least. It doesn't help that he doesn't blend -- the SOLDIER uniform plus the very obvious presence of an unusually large sword on his back certainly doesn't help.

People cluster around him, and he has to very awkwardly try to extricate himself from their attentions. Finally, it seems, he manages to give them the slip...only to accidentally bump into somebody else.

Flustered, he's quick to give an apology. ]

Ah- I'm sorry!

[The technology in this world is really strange. It's not the developments that seem weird- transportation, flying cars, those were all par for the course with the integration of technology into society. But the jukeboxes, and the adoration of chrome everywhere... It seems more like it's staged, like he's on a movie set for some weird sci-fi movie.

But the tattoo on his arm is real, and the ability to mentally call someone is also just as real. Inumuta pushes his glasses up with his hand, as he looks over his phone's screen. He needs to learn more about this world. Maybe he should start more with the people in it. Guess he's going to have to do this the hard way, until he can get into the government databases. Starting with... you, random stranger.]

Hello. What's your name?

[ he's sitting on a bench by the beach, just watching this new world run its course; from the floating cars to the extremely old fashioned feel of everything. it's all surreal, like one of Mia's old films. his folder is open on his lap, and he's read it pretty thoroughly and well. he's not entirely convinced, ironically, of his supposed superpower, because it sounds a lot like bs to him. ]

( What kind of superpower is being able to convince people you're telling the truth? I've been doing that just fine on my own. Is this for real? )

[ still, when he sees a car heading towards towards those children, he makes to shout a warning but then abruptly the car goes flying, and the source is someone in what could only be described as a superhero costume.

he settles back into his seat, still keeping an eye on the resulting mayhem. ]

Well, I guess that answers that question.

Guilty Verdict. [ this is said with as straight a poker face as you can get and no sign of joking around.

he's not completely convinced by his own supposed power of persuasion, so might as well test it out. worst thing that can happen is he gets an eye roll for being dumb, which... wouldn't exactly be something new or unusual. ]

[He... doesn't know what he was expecting. But this wasn't it, at the very least. Still, giving that kind of name... someone has more than a few responsibility issues. Possibly with the law.]

And did your parents hate you since birth, or did you legally change it to something you thought fit you better?

[Although, he doesn't believe for a second that that is this guy's real name. However, picking one of those answers would tell him more about someone than going 'nah bro you're bullshitting me.']

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 1 of 25

KEEP THE MUSIC DOWN

Ysvali Zoaramstar | Original

Michael Westen | Burn Notice (1)

Lambda-11 | Blazblue | 02

Linh Cinder | the Lunar Chronicles (3)

"Jason Bourne" | the Bourne movies (2)

jewell pierson and aquei | oc ( 2 )

peter chadwick | oc ( 1 )

jayne hart | oc ( 2 )

poppy chadwick | oc ( 1 )

no subject

dexter morgan | darkly dreaming dexter (4)

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Lucifer / Supernatural

no subject

no subject

no subject

Franklin Clinton | Grand Theft Auto (3)

no subject

Houka Inumuta | Kill La Kill (3)

Phoenix Wright | Ace Attorney | 4

no subject

no subject