WAKE UP IN THE MORNING FEELING LIKE

[maskormods]

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 someone else's thread, either!

And remember there's only one rule in Test Drive Meme Club: have fun!

01. The city of Heropa is what one might expect from a small, bright and cheery place, where locals are friendly enough and local shop owners might offer a free drink to welcome you to their fair city. Some of the locals might thank you for always lending your service to the nation, while others might not say anything -- but if you have something nasty to say, better not say anything at all, right? But on closer inspection of these Silent Stanleys and Stellas, you might notice that some people actually back away from any imPort who quite obviously looks like they aren't "from around the neighborhood". Once in a while, you may hear a voice raised:

"Did you see how visible their elections have become? They're just trying to grab power! Have you seen the homes they live in?

Of course, for every claim, there's a rebuttal; you may well hear a competing voice arguing, "They deserve to have a say in things too! You know it's different for them!"

ImPorts are a divisive issues, even in pretty Heropa.

02. De Chima, Virginia, is a large city with a healthy economy, and though it's quieter, there are just as many citizens awed at your very presence. Look at you! Organic wonder! Science and technology are the lifeblood of this city, so you're likely to come across a good many locals taking your picture with the newest of devices. The imPort craze is at an all-time high, and considering the ambition of many of De Chima's residents, you may find yourself cornered by overzealous imPort fans, media wannabes and opportunists alike, shoving cameras in your face.

Their questions are less politically charged than they are mundane, however; get ready for an interview about your taste in romantic partners, personal underwear choices, favourite foods, and more!

03. Maurtia Falls, Pennsylvania, is having a rainy day. The streets seem to be running with water, the sky can't seem to stop crying. You might want to check out some consumerism-inclined shelter, be that a smoky and dart-eyed bar full of grumbling locals, or a grimy and industrial coffee shop (full of grumbling locals). Watch your step, newly minted imPort, because if you let on that you're fresh meat then you're bound to find a few people who decide that the only proper welcome for an imPort is a nice set of knuckles to the face.

One or two more cowardly locals may hesitate before giving you such a greeting, however, with a muttered, "Wonder if the new guy in office is gonna do more than the last one."

Ouch. Look at the political savvy on this guy!

04. Nonah, North Carolina, is the liveliest of all cities; loud, busy and there's some kind of energy in the air that gets everyone buzzing with excitement. You may find yourself in the midst of a few closed-off streets for some occasion or another - whether it be a food cart festival, no-car day, or something else! - and surrounded by the hum of people, the waft of food being served on the street, and plenty of attention

Look there -- someone's demoing a VR roller coaster! Won't you give it a shot?

Comments

Kara Danvers | Supergirl

[mostlysunny]

01: Heropa

It still feels strange, reaching up to adjust her glasses and not finding them. They're in the bag she's got tumbled at her feet under the cafe table, but she doesn't need them here, that's what she'd been told, she doesn't have to hide who she is here. So she's experimenting, blinking at the world without dark frames to fend off the inquisitive looks. It's a warm day in Heropa, but her hair is down anyway, tumbling off her shoulders, catching the sun, extra-gold, extra-shiny. Just Kara, no pretending.

It feels good here. She feels good here, and her iced butterscotch latte had been on the house. The man behind the counter had given her a once-over and a knowing look and waved off payment. "Welcome to Heropa. Good luck, kid." She'd been too surprised and pleased to remark on the kid—she doesn't look that young, she's in her twenties, come on—and the good luck only gave her pause for a few seconds before she'd smiled and thanked him and taken her drink back outside.

But it doesn't take long before she starts catching the edges of whispers, even making the effort not to hear everything going on around her, and her smile starts to shift into a little frown of concern. She's new here, but that doesn't mean she won't lean over to someone at a nearby table and ask, "Is, um. I'm sorry to bother you, but I just got here, is everything…is everything all right? People seem. A little mad."

02: De Chima

There have been times where Supergirl has shown up to press events. Not a lot of them, it gets dangerous when there are too many pictures of her, but she'd stuck around after fending off an attack on a hospital to say hi to the kids there, she'd shown up to the rededication of the firehouse that had adopted her as a mascot. But it was always as Supergirl, no one wanted selfies with Kara Danvers.

Here, people seem to want selfies with Kara Danvers. A lot of them. In fact, once people had figured out that she was a, what is it? An imPort? They'd kept coming, and for the first time she'd realized what it must be like to be swamped with fans. It had been a struggle to politely get out of there without shoving too hard, and now she's managed to evade the crowd and is leaning up against a wall in a much quieter street.

She isn't really speaking to anyone in particular, maybe she's just talking to herself when she says, a little stunned, "Is it always like that here?"

03: Maurtia Falls

Even though the sun is right on the other side of the clouds, she can still feel it there, some rainy days just bring her mood down. She's subdued when she ends up in line in a coffee shop, distracted as she looks at the license plates lining the walls, the grime above the windows up near the high ceiling. It hasn't stopped raining since she arrived, and a place like this…well, it's not much like National City. She's a little homesick already.

The gloom and her short sleeves do nothing to hide the tattoo on her wrist, and she's staring at it again, wondering how they'd done it. It's a scary thought anyway, falling asleep and waking up like that, but especially her, she couldn't get a tattoo if she wanted one, the needles would snap, and she's too focused on that to notice the first waves of angry muttering as they rise up around her. Someone might want to snap her out of it before a punch is thrown and a hand is broken. That wouldn't be a great welcome.

04: Nonah

Kara Danvers considers herself something of an expert on food trucks, okay. It's not like it's a challenge to make the food-truck-festival rounds, no matter where they are, and she does, so when she finds out that her first weekend in Nonah is going to be a food cart festival, that's pretty much the best news. Nonah has found an appetite and she's going to try everything.

After making the rounds once, she's perched on a bench with a stack of empty trays next to her and a toffee apple clutched carefully in her teeth as she ties her hair back in a tight ponytail. There's no way to eat a toffee apple and have her hair down at the same time, which is a shame, she's been enjoying letting it flow free, and not having to wear her glasses, and just being Kara here. It's muffled at first, since she's trying to talk through an apple ("Myou fhoud go—") but then she remembers herself and maybe turns a little red before she takes a bite and swallows and starts again. "You should go get the mini-doughnuts before they're gone, they're so good."

2

[annihiliner]

Lexa smiles, very slightly, and raises an eyebrow. She'd been watching all of that with amusement, though most might not pick up on it immediately, and decided to approach when the poor woman stopped for breath not too far from her.

"Not always," she answers, whether or not the question was meant for her. "But often enough. You get used to it, or learn to avoid it."

Kurt "Nightcrawer" Wagner | Marvel 616

[themisfit]

De Chima
[ Kurt doesn't exactly have his gift of gab up and running when he first encounters one of De Chima's enthusiastic residents. It takes a little back-and-forth before he's able to relax into the attention. It's clear that his questions are not answerable and that this is a relatively friendly environment, so why not ham it up a bit? Soon enough he's moving with a little extra flourish and smoothly tucking jokes into his answers. Once the performer in him is roused, acting a certain part is easy enough.

It has a certain self life, however. Several conversations and demonstrations into the evening, the mass of silly questions and picture-takers begins to feel tiring. Excusing himself and making his way elsewhere proves slightly difficult, however, given his obvious status as something new and different. He tries to keep up with his manners, of course, but he can't help but to eventually mutter to the closest, calmest person. ]

Well, this place certainly is enthusiastic, isn't it?

Maurtia Falls
i. Bar Buddies
[ A drink seems like a very promising prospect after a journey to a new world and a rainy day full of sideways looks. Not knowing the area, he has to contend with the first place he comes across. It's not such a difficult task. An unfamiliar bar is still a bar. The basics don't vary all that much.

In Maurtia Falls, he's under the impression that discretion is an advisable path. Down to his posture, regrettably familiar, he tries not to bring attention to himself. He keeps his head and talk down, acts cordial, and sits at the edge of the bar. His status as an imPort is obvious, but he's not here looking for trouble. He just wants to have a couple of drinks and, if he's lucky, entertain a friendly conversation or two. ]

ii. Brawl Buddies
[ Of course, a quiet evening cannot always remain that way. After a remarkably short confrontation, Kurt finds himself dodging a punch by way of teleporting from his bar stool. Of course, it's all downhill from there. His initial aggressor has many friends, it seems, and Kurt has none.

That's not to say he doesn't have certain advantages. His agility and training leave him equipped enough to avoid and immediate trouncing, and he can make eventual work of his aggressors. Most assuredly! However... He wouldn't say no to a little help!

The bouncer seems a little laissez-faire about this whole thing, after all. ]

maurtia falls 2, let's punch stuff

[goforit]

[ Surprise, one of the aggressors gets a laser to the stomach. Low impact, of course, but enough to take him out of the equation. From her table, Alison gives Kurt a wide grin and blows some imaginary smoke off her finger guns. ]

Out of all the bars in all the alternate universes, I run into you!

[ Of course, she's run into Nightcrawler in a bar fight. But hey, Alison's resigned herself to the fact that she's never going to have a quiet life and Kurt's a good enough bud that she'll help him out in said bar fight. So, as one of the aggressors decides that Alison would be a good person to punch, she tries to weave out of the way. ]

Reese | Hustle Cat

[stitchwitchbitches]

[02; DE CHIMA]
[... So not the cafe. So not what he expected when he stepped out to try and deal with the aggressive, bat-wielding problem outside. He honestly has no idea where this is. Heck he shouldn't even be a human being right now. But here he is. On two legs. In a strange place. With no cafe, no backup, nothing but himself and the seam ripper in his pocket.]

[No panic. He's not going to panic. Magic, right? Just turn around, open up reality and pop back home again. Save the day.]

[When he's dropped off, he just sort of stands there, on a street corner. Looking around for an escape or a familiar face or... an alleyway. Dodging onlookers, the kid ducks into it, pulling his "weapon" out. That's what you'll find him attempting -- magic. Except it looks a lot more like waving around a seam ripper in the air. Every so often, the air in front of him crackles, ripping apart to reveal... nothing.]

[Which just leaves him trying to throttle back what look like tears. Crying? Him?? Absolutely not.]


[03; MAURITA FALLS]
[Much later, once he's gotten the hang of things, he's gone off to do what any good teenager does. Explore.]

[And get into trouble.]

[Stepping into the wrong shop to get out of the rain has net some... problems. In the form of glowering locals about his age. Given Reese's... lack of vertical stature, this is A Problem.]

[Now he's back out in the rain, standing his ground with a handful of rough and rowdy types, hands balled into fists.]

You have a problem? Say it to my face now!

[Reese no.]

slides on in here (de chima)

[catcursed]

[ suddenly, there's something rubbing against reese's ankles. if he happens to glance down, there's a black cat with very familiar heterochromia purring loudly at his feet.

graves steps daintily away, then settles back on his haunches, peering silently up at reese as he waits for the young man to compose himself again. while he's just as new here as his student, he's considerably less disturbed about it. he's been through a lot in his thirty-nine years, after all, and honestly, at least he's neither seen nor sensed nacht here yet. small favours.

the seam-ripper and new knack is interesting, though. the last he checked, reese was still trying to use his father's. .. is it a timeline issue..? ]

The Joker | The Dark Knight

[guywithaplan]

A. Heropa Convention Centre

The face painter was a notable little amusement during the month's swear-in, a simple little treat for the kids or those feeling especially festive. For the smaller shapes, a mere pittance. Full-faces double the price. Affordable by most -- even free ones for toddlers and babies, or even if he just seemed to like you. His hands, gloved in a deep purple that matched his suit, worked with great diligence and grace; one could hardly make out the strokes of his little brushes at all.

And the smiles of the children, especially, on looking in his hand mirror an seeing the intricate shapes he'd drawn onto their skin, came with laughter that rang like bells throughout the pavilion. His own smile was disarming, youthful, flawless. His blond hair, though clean, had an odd green tinge like he'd spent too much time swimming recently.

None of them knew that when he last looked in the mirror, applied paint to his own cheeks, that something in him hated the now perfect face that stared back, because maybe he's born with it? But maybe if he washed it away, let the paint go back where it was like he wanted to, the perfect smoothness of the skin would go with it, revealing long scars, a crooked not-smile that his tongue still struggled to understand, every time he smacked his lips remembering the jarring feeling of them split all the way back to the hinges of his jaws, like a snake. Still not expecting to feel around his inner cheeks to find the crudely field-dressed wound to have successfully closed.

You could still hear it in his voice if he wasn't careful, a teasing, metallic voice with a strange diction, formed of lips and a tongue that didn't know quite how to form words the way they used to, because it didn't feel quite right. But he made conversation, friendly conversation, nuanced conversation for a man painting clown faces on children and adults far prettier than the ones he liked to paint in truth. Fine day for a swear-in, isn't it? God and country and all that. Ah, you're in the service, sir? Thank you for all that you do. And for you, miss? Stays at home with the kids; well, what job's harder than that?

Pure Ward goddamn Cleaver over here. The boy's got so much potential, hasn't he? But now he also knows where you live.

(ooc: Brief explanation: I'm imagining one of his powers he's going to have is paint manipulation, which will allow him to cover up his face and pass for normal while he settles in.)

[morethan084]

[Daisy had seen a few adults walking around with their faces painted, so she did feel a little less ridiculous asking to get something done as well. When it was her turn, Daisy took a seat.]

You've already made name for yourself around here with your face paintings. Not really sure what I want though, any ideas?

Saitama | One-Punch Man

[heroforhobby]

((Look at me being lazy and reusing stuff from last test drive!))


03a. Maurtia Falls
Saitama was standing in the rain.

He would be standing inside dry somewhere if he had money to. He carried yen, so it wasn't taken here, and he isn't sure he has any funds from this strange new world. Unless the guy at the facility had told him otherwise? ...To be honest, he wasn't really paying attention when he was telling him stuff. He had tried to go into a café to just sit out the rain, but as soon as he set foot in the place the barista looked at him in such a way he immediately took that step back out into the rain.

People here weren't very friendly.

Oh, well.

He held his cape up over his head, letting the rain hit that and trickle down in front of him as he stood and waited for the weather to turn good or until he felt the need to finally find the place he would be living at for the time being.

--

03b. Maurtia Falls
The rain was now just a drizzle, but Saitama had other things to distract him from it. Namely, a group of 5 ruffians who started harassing him over, what he assumed, was his costume. He believed the person at the facility told him he could translate things people said with the phone or iPod or whatever they had gave him, but he just left it in his pocket. It was pretty clear they were itching to pick on someone, and it was going to be the foreigner.

Saitama didn't feel compelled to do anything about these guys, though. They wouldn't be able to harm him in anyway. He tried to walk away but they just kept crowding around him again, so he figured he'd just stand there, blank-faced, waiting for them to get bored or tire out. It wasn't like he had anywhere to be right now, anyway.

However, to anyone seeing this situation from the outside it probably looked much more threatening to his well-being than it was.

--

04. Nonah
Out of costume, he was visiting this city for the first time, just getting the feel. He was attracted by the lure of food, though, and ate as much cheap food as he dared to spend money on, still managing to stuff himself.

While shoveling (mediocre) Asian food into his mouth, he was standing in front of the VR tent, watching with an up-raised eyebrow as people shrieked or jerked about as they stood, engrossed in whatever they were seeing in those silly looking goggles.

--

[Wildcard! Write any scenario you'd like]

3a

[thepalinpaladin]

[why is this man standing in the rain in this ridiculous costume. what is this nonsense. how did a man let this happen.

These are the questions Lance is asking himself as he nears Saitama, an umbrella in hand and protecting the dainty hairs on his head since some of us can become heroes without hair loss thank you very much. Once he gets closer Lance just stops and tilts his head, trying to puzzle out this enigma. After a few beats he pokes Saitama in the side with a finger.]

I look at you and have so many question and don't know where to start.

Lord Hater | Wander Over Yonder

[hatermakesitbetter]

01. Heropa

[Ugh what a nightmare. He had this crazy dream where he woke up on this planet of Bradley Starlights and his ship was gone and Peepers was gone...crazy, right? Hater's just going to wake up any minute now, right?

Oh wait. It's not a dream. He's on a planet of weird...squishy-faced Bradley Starlights. This is a joke, right?]

Peepers you are so dead--[Gaaaaasp. He finally caught sight of his face. His face, now not skeleton-like.] Can anyone explain to me...why I don't have my face!?

[He's yelled loud enough to get the attention of a few natives, staring blank-eyed and puzzled. One daring vendor nearby offers Hater a free soda. He swipes it.]

Do I look like I want some cruddy soda!?

[Blam! Hater blasts that sucker in a blaze of green fire. Again, not a good idea.]

03. Maurtia Falls

[Later, after his initial tantrum, Hater was lost out in this soaking wet podunk town. Worse, his sweet robe was getting soaked. If only Peepers was here to do everything for him, but whatever.

He's just gotta find a spaceship, build an army, conquer the planet, and the rest of the galaxy in that order. Easy.

Hater has to...stick his head rudely into every shop along the way. 'You sell a warship here'? 'Get out'.

Several failed attempts later and Hater's sulking out against the sidewalk.]

Uuuuuugh how hard is it to find an intergalactic warship that's shaped like a skull!?

3

[thepalinpaladin]

[As Hater passes by grumbling about warships, a teenager quirks an eyebrow in his direction and can't keep himself from commenting.]

Probably less hard than finding a space lion.

Don't you think a skull shaped anything is a little too on the nose?

Lance | Voltron

[thepalinpaladin]

01. Heropa

[There can be such thing as seeming too normal, at least for Lance. As much as he likes attention he can't seem to actually get any when more impressive imPorts are drawing all the attention. So he's leaning against the outside of a smoothie shop and sulkily sucking down his smoothie at an alarming pace while making grumpy faces. If only he had the muscle mass of Shiro, then people would notice him and lavish him with attention and also maybe a date. When he notices the political talk he just kind of grimaces.]

This wasn't how I pictured my return to earth. Where is my parade.


03. Maurtia Falls

[Lance doesn't seem to mind the rain all that much, sitting outside a coffee shop under the safety of an overhang and sipping a coffee. Earlier he had made a few attempts at flirting with the girls on staff but that didn't turn out all that well for him. It was all disdainful looks and rolling eyes no matter how charming he totally was. Doesn't matter! He has the rain to watch and seems pretty happy to just chill by himself for the moment. He doesn't even realize he's mumbling to himself.]

Too bad Coran isn't here to see this. Just as good as I remembered when I told him about it...

[And then he does realize he mumbled to himself and quickly pretends to be on the phone, holding it upside down in his haste. At least he thinks he's being smooth.]

1

[protects_the_small]

I'm fairly sure the last time there was a parade, Calendar Man attacked it.

[There is a Tall Girl walking past with her own smoothie, which she sips after this statement. In this heat, Kel has forgone her usual makeshift armor in favor of a light tunic and leggings, but she does still have a sword hanging from her belt]

Percy Jackson | PJO/HOO-verse

[seawaves]

Α. Apartments in Whatever Location
[Okay. There is one thing he had to get straight first. Some sort of focus or other, because as things were now, EVERYTHING caught this attention. For one the lack of people who actually looked like superheroes as he once imagined them. Secondly, how his ability to feel one with water seemed to go back to zero. But third and most importantly was, if he was understanding this correctly, how he'd been taken from Camp Half Blood to play House in another dimension. Go to school and support himself even if he was technically still a minor.

It was hard for him to sort out. (Never mind how his ADHD complicates that. Anyone would be confused, he is very sure. Half Blood and humans alike.) Which is why now, as Percy stands in front of his newly assigned building, folder in hand, dump stare on his face, he was probably various shades of "what just happened!"

Slowly, but surely though, he seems to grow more aware of what it is just happened or at least more accepting of the situation. He can't say if it's more one over the other, but he can't stand around all day, can he now. The only thing he can do is try processing everything going on, and try and try again. Which is why to no one in particular, yet to anyone wanting to answer him if they happen to be passing by, he exclaims one thing while looking at his apparent apartment.]

How is this place for super heroes? It looks like it's a regular apartment, like everything else here. [This isn't exactly complaint if you actually hear his tone, but an honest to god question.]

Β. Maurtia Falls; Rainy Days
[Later, very much later. Two weeks later even, Percy has gotten some momentum with relearning his god given abilities. What ability you may ask? Just the ability to control water to his will, is all. It's not so much a big secret anymore. Especially seeing how it's apparently normal for everyone to have powers or at least be aware of them.

Plus, he hasn't been shy with practising in the open since finding that out.

In fact the rainy climate of Maurtia Falls is particularly helpful in it, so often enough, he can be found playing around with the rain water during or after it rains, or doing something or other on his way home. The usual tricks are putting his hand on the ground to focus on the puddles moving in a straight lines or making water jump a little freakishly off the ground like backwards rain or basketball size blobs, that all eventually fall down with a -

SPLOOSH!

Careful not to get wet.]

Γ. Your Own Adventure
[Options 1 or 2 don't work for you? Feel free to make your own.]

b & my body is ready

[laruetheday]

[ Clarisse has been just waiting for someone to tick her off, and when the huge blob of water hits her head and leaves her drenched, she's actually a little bit happy. Mad-happy. In that way that Ares kids so often are, when they're looking for a fight. She rounds on Percy, not recognizing him right away, because—Jackson, here? Give her a break. But, yeah, that's him. ]

Well, well, well. Look who's cruising for a bruising.

csethiro ceredin | the goblin emperor

[holdmysunsword]

01 ESCORT REQUIRED

[ You would think short elf women all dressed up in silk and ornate beads and jewelry wouldn't cause such a fuss. Really, if it had been several certain other ladies from court, the worst the people waiting to collect new imPorts would have been some fainting. Unfortunate for them, then, that it's Csethiro that's come through. Screaming and fainting are two things Csethiro Ceredin are not prone to, although it had taken all her control to, at least, squash the actual urge to start yelling up until the point she saw a chance to strike.

It wasn't the greatest chance, but she had no intention of going meekly, without a fight.

So, as it is now, the base is looking for one or two more experienced imPorts to come and take Csethiro off their hands now that she's menaced the soldiers with a chair and threatened them several times upon recapture. The message will, in fact, include that.

They've since gotten her under guard outside the base, where there's no longer anything sharp, pointy, heavy, or easily swung in reach. The guards in charge keep a wary distance from the elf, who stands as aloof and as cold as her pale skin and equally white hair, intense blue eyes focused intently on the increasingly uncomfortable soldiers watching her back. There's something incredibly forbidding about her, a demeanor she's all too good at affecting, and it's very much on purpose that she's doing her best to unsettle the two out there with her.

Please come rescue them from the angry elf lady. They never signed up for this. ]

02 DE CHIMA

Our what?

[ Whatever had been asked must have been one of the more shocking questions, because Csethiro is actually flustered for a second or two before drawing herself up as tall as she can and, likewise, putting her ears back up from the startled dip they'd taken, as well as her chin, as if she could stare down her nose at the media wannabe and his cameraman by sheer force of will. They're taller, of course, but she tries regardless. ]

We do not believe that is any business of yours or that of your viewers. [ Whoever viewers are. ] Now if you would be so kind, we do have places to be and you are in our way.

[ Seems that De Chima is a new and strange beast. From a life where formality rules nearly all interaction outside of the closest ties, having so many people suddenly approach and speak with her has been an experience. Regular curiosity isn't so bad. From children, she especially does not mind. From people who shove cameras in her face, however, she's going on the defensive, especially not liking being cornered by... this particular one. ]

+01 sword lady

[protects_the_small]

[The excitements at the start of every month are worth keeping an eye on. Granted they usually included baffled newcomers holding up traffic or trying to figure out a camera, so a call for back up was....interesting. Kel shows up armed, and waves easily to the guards. After a short, whispered conference with the one in charge, she walks up to Csethiro and bows]

I am sorry for the confusion, My Lady, it takes us all by surprise.

princess allura | voltron legendary defender

[juniberries]

01. Heropa
[So...this is what Earth is like.

Suffice to say, Allura didn't quite anticipate visiting the paladins' home planet so soon and in such a--well, in such an abrupt, unplanned manner. But it certainly is a cheery place, and welcoming as well, already finding herself being thanked by strangers who don't know who she is or what rank she holds.

And...admittedly, after receiving her free drink from what was called a 'Malt Shoppe,' she can now kind of see where Hunk is coming from when complaining about the Altean food. She takes a long sip from her strawberry malt shake, and it tastes...well, not the same, but sweetly nostalgic, the warmth of summer, berry stained dresses...]

Oh! [The princess puts a hand to her mouth, licking her lips, eyes wide.] This is so...sweet. Almost too sweet, admittedly...

[And yet!! She keeps drinking it!! She's sitting under a bench beneath the shade of a tree, immersed in her Earthling drink that she doesn't even notice nasty stares some of the more unfriendly locals shoot her way at her being an obvious imPort.]

02. De Chima
[Earth's natives have rather...strange reactions when they find out that you're a princess. With her long white hair and pointed ears, it seems almost as though they both expect it when they're told, and get incredibly excited that she matches what they expect of a space princess.

Allura's been hounded by young girls and boys (and some...older...men...) practically the entire time she's been here, tugging at her dress, asking her where her crown is, if there are any prince charmings in her life (and she wonders why the prince has to be charming).

A few of the seedier, older people are already asking her some rather...invasive questions improper to ask a princess dealing with an intergalactic crisis sitting heavy on her shoulders, so feel free to rescue the princess who is clearly overwhelmed by all this attention that is not at all serious in nature.

It's obvious she's growing overwhelmed. Her years of training did not prepare her for this sort of...adulation and personal invasiveness.]

one

[oceanthief]

There's stuff that's even sweeter.

[speaking of obvious imPorts, that comment comes directly from a small blue girl who just touched down near Allura's bench. Lapis' watery wings glitter in the Floridian sun briefly before they disappear back into her gem. she's learned her lesson about wayward flaps in crowded human areas by now.

what she hasn't learned is that it's not polite to simply insert yourself unannounced into other people's conversations, which is what's led to this particular situation. it doesn't help that she's remained standing rather than sat down like someone who understands proper social interaction. oops.]

Rusty Venture | Venture Bros

[musclemothers]

o1 ; Heropa

[When Rusty is unceremoniously dumped in Heropa, he doesn't waste any time spending absolutely zero time looking where he's going, and mashing his little video watch with the sort of single-minded focus usually found in people trying to make the elevator go faster. Will pushing a little button make it work any more than it is? No. Is he going to do it anyway? Absolutely.]

Hello? Hatred? Come in, Hatred. What do I even pay you for if you won't pick up?

[Okay, take two. If his bodyguard won't protect him, he can always bully his sons into doing it for him.]

Boys? Boys? [He lets out a derisive scoff, rapping his knuckles against the face of the watch, though his eyes are still on it, and not where he's going.]

o2 ; De Chima

[He had been about to dismiss the people crowding him until he realized that they want to talk to him. Most people need help getting away from the reporters, but Rusty? Rusty can't get enough.]

What -- you want to talk to me? [His demeanor changes almost immediately, his horrifying slouch straightening up until only his neck is slouching (a moment's bolstering of the ego isn't enough to change decades of bad posture) and he shines his nails against his shirt as he launches into a diatribe of,] Well, you see, I am a super-scientist. Thus the suit. You see, I've been the creator of many incredible devices back home - none of which made it here, of course, or else I would show you a few samples - and even have contracts with the most -- what? You want to know what colour my underwear is?

[He leans forward, leering at the female reporter who had been addressing him, one of his very prominent eyebrows rising into an unsubtle arch.]

Well, why don't you come on over to my place and find out...? I haven't been there yet, but we could discover it... together.

[Yikes.]

o3; Maurtia Falls

[What do you get when you put a guy who calls himself a super-scientist, walking around in a onesie, absolutely failing to hide his imPort status whatsoever and, moreover, looking downright cocky about it?

You get a grown man curled pitifully on the ground, arms over his head, as he gets the shit kicked out of him.

You could save him. Or you could join in. He probably deserves it.]

03; for the purposes of this tdm Day of the Seafarer counts as a legit holiday

[exceptfebruary]

[ Julian is in Maurtia Falls getting supplies for undoubtedly illegal things he was up to that may or may not involve crashing parties, when he comes across a bunch of locals beating on some poor soul.

In a lot of ways, this city reminds Julian of home. And like Gotham, the best way to survive is to casually keep walking. Which he fully intends to do.

But he also has very bright blue tattoos and has been on the news, as a supervillain no less, so when one of the locals looks up from kicking Rusty he goes "Hey! Isn't that the calendar asshole?"

A couple break off, all riled up. ]

Hm. I wouldn't. Today is a holiday.

[ And then he summons seven siren sailor monsters, you know, as you do, who proceed to chase off the locals, accidentally saving Rusty in the process. ]

Not today, it seems.

graves ( hustle cat )

[catcursed]

( HEROPA )
[ so you were just minding your own business, maybe seated on a park bench or at an outdoor cafe.. reading the paper, or else someone left the paper there before you arrived. either way, suddenly there's a patter, and a black cat has jumped up next to said paper. with bright, surprisingly stunning mismatched eyes, he stares at you for a few moments before slinking closer, glancing down at the text in apparent interest.

ah... is he reading it..??? ]


( DE CHIMA - lucky cat cafe )
[ ok but seriously where did this new cat come from? it looks like he just wandered in at some point during the morning rush, and now he's sunning in the window like he belongs there. still, for a cat, he's paying an awful lot of attention to the people working there and the various customers. his ears keep flicking back and forth as he listens to the conversations going on in the store.

.. well.. with a couple of shapeshifters that apparently hang around there, it wouldn't be a surprise that he isn't what he seems, anyway. ]


( MAURTIA FALLS )
Now, now. I'm afraid I don't believe in violence.

[ the voice is audible before its owner comes into view. he's a man in his late thirties or early forties, tall and slender, with dark, graying hair and the most outrageous heterochromia-- almost catlike, actually. he's leaning on a cane, though, and he's been backed into an alley by a couple of thugs apparently looking to mug him or just beat him, who knows. he doesn't seem all that concerned, though, despite the fact that they all seriously outclass him physically. .. maybe he just hasn't figured out how much trouble he's in? ]

Heropa

[bindsthedead]

[Sabriel blinks but scratches behind the cat's ears, before turning her attention back to the paper- another article about preparations for De Chima's Independence Day festivities, including the exhibit at the Civil War museum.

And in between sips of coffee, she tries to pet the cat.]

Duck | Princess Tutu

[pasdeducks]

one: heropa
[ Post series spoilers happened and needless to say, Duck is very confused and worried why she isn't a duck anymore and also very confused and worried about the fact that she's still got her Princess Tutu pendant. This can't be good. And yet...it's nice. She didn't mind being a duck, but it's nice to be a human again. It's just a pity that Mytho or Fakir or Rue (or Pique or Lillie) aren't in this world (or so she thinks)...but that's okay! She can do this! She'll just make new friends somehow maybe hopefully!

...after she drinks this malt of course. Well she's not going to say no to food, especially if this person's nice enough to make her a malt! Granted, she doesn't even know what a malt is, but still! Duck's walking from the soda counter to a table when, seemingly out of nowhere and seemingly on nothing, she trips. And almost as in slow motion, the malt flies out of her hands, spilling all over whichever poor soul was in front of her.

Duck, in all her "graceful" nature, slams right on the ground. She's only sprawled out for a moment before she looks up at whatever poor soul has malt on their shirt/face and instantly starts apologizing. ]

I'm sorry!!! I don't know what I tripped over, silly Duck there's not anything there, let me just grab a napkin and I'll help to blot that out— [ she still keeps talking while Duck just grabs ten or so napkins from the napkin dispenser and frantically starts to mop up the poor person's shirt/the floor ] I didn't mean for that to happen of course, nobody really means to spill things especially things they're going to eat later but I can't help it, I'm just really clumsy, and I'm so so so sorry!

[ Eventually she stops talking and shoots whoever she spilled the malt on an apologetic glance. Whoops? ]

two: de chima
[ Well this isn't good in the slightest! There's all these people and they keep calling her a hero and asking her about things and they're asking her about romantic partners and she certainly can't tell them about Fakir because that is embarrassing and what if he shows up, that would be even more embarrassing so Duck is just bright red as some papparazzo starts bothering her about questions about herself. ]

Well, I... [ "surely a cute young woman like yourself has someone on her mind?" ] Well sort of, but I dunno if he's here and I just— [ "what sort of products do you use to get your hair like that?" ] It's natural? [ "and your favorite food is?" ] Oh, bread! [ "are you more of a plain underwear or cute underwear type of girl?" ] Whaaaaat? That's, no, look I'm not going to answer that! I've had enough!

[ but the questions keep coming. Somebody please save her. ]

( ooc: please forgive me for I am rusty as shit. )

one

[darkimitation]

[Repliku or Kagami was inside the same shop as Duck planning on getting something for himself when her malt goes flying right into his face as he made his way to the soda counter. He blinks for a moment then sees her trying to clean him up frantically and talking at the same time. He's silent for a good second or two then decides to finally talk.]

... It's fine, watch where you're going next time. [He doesn't sound thrilled, but he doesn't sound too pissed off either.] You also talk way too much.

The Corinthian (II) | The Sandman

[mirrordarkly]

01. HEROPA
[bright Florida, hot Florida, and it's hard to tell whether the sunbeams reflect harder off this stranger's smile or his shades, tinted dark. Asking a nearby person for directions tipped them off and began a crowd, a few souls gathered around an unassuming man at the edge of a park across from the beach.]

Oh, I'm from no place you've heard of. [he tells them, humming.] Not outside of your dreams.

[which some take (mistake?) as some clever remark, setting off a few titters and more shy questions. A woman fights to restrain her dog, which has pulled back so far on its leash it's nearly slipped its collar, fighting for distance.

The Corinthian tips his head towards someone watching, curious, but still addressing the small crowd.]

Does everyone get this welcome? It's humbling.

03. MAURTIA FALLS
[Close to dusk, and the rain falls in sheets.

Someone jogging past for a dry space might think it odd, the man standing in the thick of it, relaxed and still as stone. White-haired but younger, hands in the pockets of his jeans as his white shirt soaks through to the skin. He's staring (one assumes, dark as his sunglasses are) at the mouth of an alley some distance away, where a homeless woman tosses in fitful sleep, huddled among stuffed bags under the meager protection an alcove offers. Her lips move in wordless, dreaming terror.

The man watching frowns, but not in sympathy.]

03.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Corey Hart fan?

[Sarcastically spoken, unapologetically dated. Chilton stood nearby, armed with a black umbrella and a double-breasted suit. He watched the young man with interest, perhaps waiting for his own company to arrive -- perhaps seeking a fresh breed of entertainment. Darkness would soon embrace what dusk had left.]

andrea | the walking dead

[justmakeroom]

01 :: H E R O P A

[ Realizing with stark and unsettling clarity that her entire perception of someone was wrong, and she'd played into the hands of a man who wanted to kill her friends, has made her even less trusting of anyone than she already was. She's been branded, marked, clearly declared to be different in a world that could be just as hostile as the place she left. At least with walkers, she knew exactly what she was getting. It's people, truly, who are the real monsters.

She's not afraid of the conversations going on around her; uneasy, certainly, but that feeling is useful. It makes her more cautious, more alert. She doesn't engage anyone who makes the mistake of seeming hostile, and instead she winds her way through the crowd. It's only when she makes it to a little cafe where the people seem more friendly that she relaxes just a little. Her guard will stay up, of course, but she doesn't look like she'll hurt anyone who comes too close, at least. Truth be told, she is hungry, and thirsty, and she's amazed at the options before her. She would have done anything for a good cup of coffee before Woodbury. Then she had a taste of what seemed like normalcy again until the illusion was shattered. ]

I forgot what this felt like.

[ Having these options. Being free to make the choice of bacon or sausage with her egg sandwich, milk or cream with her coffee. She had good stuff in Woodbury, but the memory of it is something dark and terrible now, knowing the truth about Phillip. She just...wishes her friends were here, too. ]

04 :: N O N A H

[ The energy here sinks down to the roots of her soul, awakening something she thought died in her long ago, the moment Amy took her last breath. She changed forever then; losing her sister shifted her perspective on everything, and she would have gladly joined her for a long time. Then the movement of time turned things around for her again, and again. Michonne brought life and hope back. Woodbury reinforced it, then shattered it.

Watching the people around her delight in just living makes her miss her sister like hell. There's a food truck festival, there's music. This could almost be like life before everything went to hell. She wishes Amy were here, Michonne. Rick. Daryl. Carol. Everyone left behind. It feels wrong somehow to even enjoy this without them, but the human part of her can't help it. She almost smiles when she sees someone eating funnel cake, and she decides to get a whole one for herself. It's possible her eyes are bigger than her stomach, though, because she hasn't had this much sweet food in a long time. ]

nonah

[fayzedandconfused]

[ Breeze knows the look, by now. It's easy to tell when someone is new, and it's easy to tell when they're coming from a bad situation, especially when they get that look on their face. The one that shows how shocked they are to see people happy, with enough to eat, not worried about surviving from one moment to the next. She knows that look, because she wore it herself just a few months ago. ]

Careful. [ She says this when she sees Andrea with her funnel cake. ] If you haven't had sugar in a while, and you eat too much, it'll make you puke. I did. [ This last bit she adds with a touch of pride. ]

Cassandra Cain | DC New 52/Rebirth

[kickasscass]

01

[Cassandra has never really been one for crowds. She's clad in her black and yellow armor and walks along the top of a railing, balancing expertly as if it was as easy as breathing. The locals seem duly impressed, though their greetings only illicit a shy--if friendly--smile. Simple questions might get a simple 'yes' or 'no', in a voice made awkward by disuse.]

03

[Cass doesn't really mind the rain; it reminds her of the gloomy atmosphere that seems to hover over Gotham at all times. Still, even a fledgling superhero gets tired of wringing out their boots after about four times. Unfortunately, her choice of shelter happens to be one of the seedy bars, where the angry leather-clad biker types have no qualms with picking a fight with a diminutive-looking girl as long as she happens to be an import.

After she ignores a string of insults, the first punch is thrown. It never connects. Instead, the largest, meanest biker finds himself sailing through the air and crashing through the front window. The bar descends into a melee, the odds being about twenty against one. However, the girl seems to be more than holding her own, darting around with almost superhuman speed and each blow rendering another thug down for the count.]

01

[heliophilic]

[Of course the girl walking on a railing would be interesting enough even if she wasn't wearing an obvious costume, but the two combined? Well M had to go over and say hello.]

You know, there's this amazing creation called 'the ground.' It lets us not have to stand on railings all the time.

Strix | DCnU

[talus]

02.

Strix isn't wearing her face bandages. It's not a problem at home, where she has her family and her treehouse and her gnomes and none of them look at her differently when she's wearing them or isn't. Here, people point and stare and take pictures. Strix doesn't want them to have pictures, so she chases one of them down and takes his camera away. She doesn't hurt him very much, but she doesn't really know how to remove his pictures, so she keeps the phone.

When he tells her to give it back, she scribbles on her notepad, in somewhat messy writing: ROOD. Then, TAK IT AWAY. As far as she's concerned, this is completely right and proper. Of course, it doesn't occur to her that it kind of looks like she's stealing from a citizen right now.

04.

Strix doesn't know what this is, but she loves it. There's food everywhere, and people talking and laughing and playing games. She plays a few games, too. She's really good at the aiming ones. And at some point, she picks up a purple stuffed rhinoceros that she carries around happily.

Every so often, someone gets tapped on the shoulder and shown her notepad: WAT AR RINO NAMES?

04 (and eeee Strix! :D)

[princeofrats]

"Rhino-names...?" Mouse squints at the notepad, and raises an eyebrow - not because he finds Strix's way of communicating strange, but because he's putting some serious thought into the question. The rats on his shoulders look equally deep in thought, even though one of them is keeping itself busy by munching on a popcorn kernel.

"Reginald might be good, he looks kinda fancy. Or maybe Regina if she's a girl? Names that start with an R work, since they have... what's the word?" The rat holding the popcorn squeaks. "Right, alliteration! They start with the same letter!"

Izuku Midoriya | My Hero Academia

[dekuru]

[02]

[The people suddenly giving him very little personal space reminds him of how people were to him after the Sports Festival. It was earnestly a bit nerve wracking!!! He was feeling pretty overwhelmed, but he wasn't very good at handling these kind of things at all.]

P-P-Please! I...have to get going, really! Wha-no, my favorite food? Ah, katsudon-wait! I really need to get going.

[In his attempt to escape, he ends up crashing straight into someone.] I'm sorry!!! [He bows profusely in apology, although he might just be causing more of a scene...]

[04]

[He doesn't mine the lively city. It's actually quite nice. It reminds him a bit of the bustling city at home, although he's not running to every villain sighting to take notes now.

He's pretty enamored by all the food carts that are around and going by them all to see what they're serving. A lot of the food is pretty foreign to him. He's wondering if he should try and find a food cart that has food he's more familiar with or try something new.

He seems to be muttering to himself quite a bit as he looks at all the food carts.] Maybe I should try something new. Even if I find something that's more like what there is at home, there's no guarantee that it'll actually be the same. I should probably get used to the food that's served around here...

Gwen Poole | Marvel 616

[gwensane]

02

[If there's one person that stands out in a crowd, it's the girl dressed as some kind of pink, pants-less ghost. She seems to be soaking up the attention, delivering plenty of high-fives and just generally acting like she owns the place.]

Oh man, this must be the 'hero gets transported to an alternate reality' arc! Awesome! Though those alternate realities always seem kind of dystopian. This one just seems...

[She's nearly blinded by the sudden flash of cameras and the sudden rush of questions. What's she dressed as? What are her powers? Why isn't she wearing pants?]

...Nosy. [Nevertheless, she clears her throat.] A super awesome mercenary, an encyclopedic knowledge of the Marvel universe, and my tailor ran out of pink fabric, so don't get too grabby there, pal.

[withgreatbleach]

Listen to the lady, gentlemen — nahhhhh, on second thought, that word's way too nice for the handsy sort.

[ Ben flips down off a nearby rooftop. Still in the hoodie, of all things, if only because he can't find the costume that doesn't suck. ]

I get wanting the latest scoop, but geez, haven't you people ever heard of this little concept called "privacy"?

Justin Hammer | MCU

[trustinhammer]

02. De Chima

[The first thing to do after arrival was to get rid of his prison clothes. He'd been more than happy to see them go, but now what? He didn't have his fortune, which would have been more unsettling if he hadn't spent years in the prison clothes he just stuffed in a trash bag. So no fancy suits, for shame. But a polo and some khakis, he can do that. Yes. Just thinking of it as super casual poor folks' golf clothing and he can do it.

He'd jokingly identified himself as Captain America upon arrival. Now it was written on his file as fact. He wasn't sure how the real Captain America would take to it, but oh well. Justin Hammer was Captain America now. God save them all.

He's out in De Chima when he gets cornered, and rather than shy away, it's like this guy's a natural in front of a camera, reporters, answering a slew of questions all at once. Anyone walking by is bound to get an earful of...]

Oh, definitely. I love sweets. Ice cream, cakes, bring it all. Got a sweet tooth a mile wide. [Ugh and his smile shows none of the wear and tear of a sweet maniac, it's like he's got Colgate in his veins. Or how about...] American colors, baby! Always gotta have at least one set with red, white, and blue, stars and stripes! [Congratulations, you know now that Justin Hammer wears tacky American flag boxers. He's wearing them as he speaks. Or...] Superheroes? Yeah, we've got those. You ever heard of Tony Stark? Man, I love that guy. He's great, we've always gotten on so well. Like brothers! Oh, he's here? ...is Potts? Pepper Potts, little redheaded thing doing all Tony's paper pushing? No?

Wildcard

[Throw anything at me and I will throw it back!]

omfg

[liverletdie]

[ Close enough that he can hear, it's very quick that the real Tony Stark -- complete with a bottle of water in hand -- looks up. Narrows his eyes.

Because he's never seen this man in his entire life. Now who's going around saying that they know each other? And Pepper? Well -- he'd have never called Pepper Potts a paper pusher, but this can't stand. Oh no, this can't. ]

I can assure you, [ he says, sliding in smoothly, ] that she does a lot more than that. It's been too long, pal, come on, let's go have a chat.

[ He says, before he nudges him away with a smile for the cameras. ] I'll give you an interview later to make up for it, how about that? [ He asks, offering the camerawoman a wink. ]

Mia 'Maps' Mizoguchi | DC New 52/Rebirth

[callmemaps]

01.

(Being in Heropa wasn't a totally strange experience for Maps, as she'd been out of town before but those moments weren't ones she appreciated too much. Other than meeting different people, but that had been the highlight of said experience. At the moment, she was just taking in the sights while trying to see if she could find anyone from Gotham. How did she get there? She'd literally ran from Maurtia Falls which had to have taken quite a bit out of her.)

Hi hi~! Anyone know where I can find a pizza place here?


03.

(This feels...familiar.

Maps stares at the area in Maurtia Falls she'd found herself in without warning. The rain reminded her of Gotham, but she couldn't deny the fact she'd been here before. She had friends here, she'd reunited with friends...and she'd lost them.

Not lost them, lost them, but it was more like they went back and she'd been left adrift. Still, when she thought about what she had to do to regain her bearings Maps found herself taking to the skies. What surprised her the most was that being airborne also felt familiar!)

...Oh my crap, I have powers?!! Wait'll I tell Olive about this!

01

[fuhgottaboutit]

[For Osaka, this is culture shock to the nth degree. Not only has she never been to America, but it's nothing like she imagined it. Nobody ever told her they had teleporters and flying cars in America! This is amazing!

..... Oh, wait, somebody's asking her a question.]

Pizza? Umm......

Ben Reilly | Scarlet Spider

[withgreatbleach]

01. Heropa

[ With one hand, Ben pulls down the brim of his baseball cap. Force of habit — even in a new world there's that instinctive urge to hide his face in case he looks a little too familiar. In the other hand, he's holding an iced latte, and debating drinking it. Spider-sense doesn't seem be tingling but he's learned the hard way that isn't always proof he isn't about to be poisoned or attacked or worse. There's also the fact that... ]

No way this holds a candle to Shirley's coffee.

[ He smiles to himself, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes. When he notices a mother pull her child closer, and walk around him, he assumes it's because he's finally become the weirdo talking to himself in public — well, okay, maybe he always was that guy. Just a little. Then the snippets of conversation start going in one ear and out the other.

He sighs.

Might as well be back home, walloping Sentinels. Why was paranoia against people with powers some sort of universal constant? ]

03. Maurtia Falls

[ Great. Just great. It's pouring and he's... back in that outfit. Spider Ma - or is it Scarlet Spider again? - pulls the hood up over his spandex. As if it's going to do any good. By now, the rain's started to soak into the fabric, leaving him even more damp and annoyed at his luck. It just wasn't fair. A guy stops calling himself "Parker", then logically, he shouldn't have to suffer the infamous Parker Luck.

Right?

If only he could figure out where his real costume had disappeared to. ]

01

[notyourfathersosborn]

[Normie's late to meet his friend Riku at one of the movie theaters in Heropa. As a result he's walking down the sidewalk a little faster than he probably should be given the crowds of people, but he's mostly oblivious to this as he nimbly slips between the crowds of people. Of course, this foolproof plan of all but running through a crowd of people inevitably goes wrong a he slips between two tourists only to misjudge the distance between them and the guy in the baseball cap behind them. He skids to a halt, and only avoids completely barreling into him with the help of his other's borrowed spider agility... though as it is he still manages to clip the poor guy on his non-latte side.]

Oh my god, I'm so sorry! Are you all right?

yukari takeba. ;; persona three.

[snipers]

heropa;

[ tea. of the offered drinks, tea seems like the least suspicious, and yukari asks for something from a bottle, just to be extra sure. paranoid, maybe, but arriving in a place like this unannounced or unexpected? she'd be stupid if she didn't take at least a few measures to be safe. besides, there's nothing like looking at a file of all your personal information to make someone just that little bit more defensive. what the hell were they doing with all that info, anyway!? it's not like her persona was something that she talked a lot about — no one in s.e.e.s did.

as lost as she is in that thought, she can't help but overhear the whispers spreading between the locals. sipping her tea, she doesn't ask many questions of these people, but she keeps an eye out for anyone with a tattoo like hers (sheesh, they couldn't even wait before branding her, could they?). maybe she could ask them questions but — definitely not before getting distracted by the shopping, and all the fashion in this new year. she's got seven to catch up on (which is something she never thought she'd ever have to deal with, let's be honest), so who can blame her for doing a little window shopping and not looking where she's going?? ]

Oh! Sorry, 'scuse me!

maurtia falls;

[ yukari's been in in the falls area for almost an hour now, most of it spent underneath an overhang outside a coffee shop. she thought sure, whatever, she'll take a look around since it's not like she'll be able to get back to her home any time soon (a fact that causes her stomach to lurch), but coming to this place was kiiiiind of a mistake. this wasn't the first time she's gone into the "wrong part of town", but last time she had at least two guys as back-up, and she knew what she was doing. now, though? she really wants to just find a way back, not only out of the rain, but out of the town. taking her lower lip between her teeth for a second, yukari casts her eyes around for a friendly face before jogging forward, trying her best to stay out of the rain. ]

Excuse me —! Excuse me, sorry, but could I borrow some money for an umbrella? [ she offers the lady a grin, her hands twisting together behind her back. ] Promise I'll pay it back, I just— [ but she can't finish her sentence, as the person she was trying to bargain with shoves her off rather roughly, causing the tiny japanese girl to stumble back a few steps. her balance isn't gone for long, and she watches the woman walk off, a frustrated look on yukari's face. ]

Psh, what's her problem?

[ hopefully there will be someone around to keep her from getting into too much trouble, because it's not like yukari's unarmed. the bow she has draped over her shoulder is bound to catch the wrong kind of attention if she sticks around too long. ]

nonah;

[ this? this is much better. yukari is definitely sampling some of the food cart's offerings before she continues her wandering. this is also your wildcard option! feel free to PM me if you'd like to do something specific otherwise have at! ]

Maurtia Falls

[homerunning]

[There's something to be said for habits as old as time, and right now is just one of those moments. Someone falls in line behind her, watching that lady walk off and letting out a low whistle. To be honest, the bow should have been a dead giveaway for his brain to click, but being so long in this place, watching Minato, Akihiko, AND Shinjiro all disappear at once, and the fact that people seemed to bring their weapons with them on a regular basis, he's being a little less focused today.

His hands pull his hood down--his only shelter from the rain.]

Felt that sting of rejection from here. [He lets out a sigh, removing that jacket he was once wearing (very similar to the fur lined one he had back home) and holds it out.]

Never fear, Yukaricchi, I'll guide you through this damp labry--





[Wait a fuck. His hand goes rigid on that coat, dropping it in the process. Thankfully they weren't standing IN the rain.]

Yu- ...Yu-, Yu-.. Yu...

YUKARICCHI!????

Alfred Pennyworth | Dawn of Justice (DCU)

[guyfriday]

.o1:

Spending too much time in the hot, Florida sunshine has Alfred itching to return to Gotham City in a way he never expected. Winter was just settling in at home when he was deposited here, leaving behind a staggering amount of work to be done at home ahead of Christmas, work he'd rather be getting on with instead of finding his feet here. Luthor's warning to Bruce is something he's kept turning over in the back of his mind, lodged there like an irritating burr. What else could be out among the stars?

An argument pulls him from his thoughts, the back and forth of a loud conversation between two patrons in line at this small, sleeky modern cafe. Lowering his coffee cup, he glances up to find he's not the only one watching the men debate imPort politics. Alfred takes a chance and addresses the person at the table across from him, his voice low, "What do they mean by that?"

.o2:

The advantage of closing in on sixty and having a fashion sense that hovers somewhere around "hipster grandpa" means Alfred is so unremarkable-looking he's left unmolested by fans and their cameras. No one's hounding him to ask what color his shorts are, for mercy much thanks.

That doesn't stop him from noticing when another imPort - young, just as green as he was only a few weeks ago, and wearing an expression of discomfort - is chased by one, then another hopeful blogger. A third brings up the rear, her friends hot on her tail, scenting fresh meat. "Who does your hair?" The first girl begs to know, smudging her fingers frantically over her camera settings. Gotta get just the right filter, huffing a bit to keep up with her imPort target.

"Where do you shop?" "Tell us about your personal style icons!" "Just one more pic, please!" "One more-" Against his better judgement, but feeling compelled to help all the while, Alfred steps in to cut across the field of flashes and intimately personal questions, shielding the younger imPort from view under a sheltering arm.

"Cross the street ahead," he tells them quietly, keeping a brisk pace ahead of the mob. "We'll lose them when the light changes."

Wildcard

[ Come say hi, will match style, I'm easy. ]

02!

[quickgenius]

Jesse’s gotten used to having wings. She’s even getting better at using them. What she’s not used to, what she’s probably never getting used to, is the staring. The whispering. The derogatory looks cast her way.

And now there’s FANS added to the mix. At least here in De Chima. All because she’d rescued one kid from a burning building. She’d gone to De Chima with her dad so they could attend some conference on the latest tech. It hadn’t taken up all of their time, so they had a chance to explore a little. They’d parted ways for a couple hours when it had happened. She’d caught sight of smoke billowing skyward and gone to see if she could help without even thinking. (The memory of a week as a speedster superhero sharp in her mind) An apartment building had been on fire, a little girl trapped inside on the fifth floor. It had been a simple flight, straight up, straight down, and she’d still wiped out on the landing (and wobbled a little in the air) but the little girl had been all right. Had been safe, and that was what mattered. The only thing that mattered.

But she’d been on the NEWS, almost immediately following the rescue and suddenly there are bloggers following her. This isn’t something she’s used to. She helped her dad a lot with public events back home, and knows how to handle the public eye. Just not THIS sort of public eye. No one had hounded her this way. Chasing her through the streets. She’d managed to lose them for a little bit, but they found her.

She stands out like a sore thumb with the wings.

So when they start in again with the chasing she’s panicked and deeply uncomfortable. And getting even more panicked and uncomfortable the more intimately personal questions they hurl at her. All she wants to do is go home. Go find her dad. Go back to Heropa. Then there’s someone stepping in, someone she doesn’t recognize, doesn’t know, hiding her as best he can with a sheltering arm.

The relief is so intense it hurts.

paolo arjona | original character

[aojona]

1 ▸ HEROPA

[ There's a colorfully dressed man gracing a bus bench, looking sharp in an unbuttoned polka dotted shirt worn as a jacket over a crop top the same bright red as his glasses frames as he sips on a free iced tea and silently observes people passing by; looking at him, one might assume he'd have have a more cheerful -- or at least outgoing -- sort of personality, but that's not the vibe he gives off just sitting there by himself, staring and sipping his drink through a straw with a neutral though serious expression on his face.

Paolo is not a person who has much trouble with going with the flow; he doesn't feel panicked or disoriented by these circumstances regardless of how unbelievable -- it's just a new place, a new situation, and he's already so used to being treated as an outsider that he's able to sit there and find watching how the people here navigate things, both imPort and not, interesting. ]

Mm. [ He looks at his drink. ] This is actually good.

[ Though he doesn't remember where exactly he got it from... which will be a shame in a moment, because a group of older locals descends crankily upon the bus stop. Paolo tries to get out of their way as quickly as he can, getting up to leave the bench, but between the shuffle and shoving, the rest of his drink ends up spilled down his front . Well, that's... cold, however welcome a cold drink on a hot summer day in Florida would otherwise be. He slips away further down the block, beginning to button up his overshirt so that the tea doesn't show. ]

Phew, that's better. [ His tone is almost deadpan, though he isn't actually being sarcastic. Nor does he even seem mad or anything, just rolling with the punches. Still to himself, he adds: ] Glad it wasn't coffee.

2 ▸ DE CHIMA

[ Paolo is not a charismatic, outspoken person by any means, so the surge of attention is definitely overwhelming to him -- not that it really shows, though. He doesn't visibly register any sort of anxiety or display distress on his face, and the tone of his answers is consistent with how he speaks in general: so level, tonally unvaried, and to the point that it sounds a bit like he's taking an attitude. ]

Um, I guess I don't really know. I mean I wouldn't want to date a murderer, obviously. Or, like, a reporter. [ Then, considering the next question: ] I feel like underwear just has to fit, unless you're wearing a skirt or something. Mostly I just eat quesadillas, fast food... and sushi, when I can afford it. Anyway, we're done here, right...?

[ He doesn't even wait for an answer before he simply turns and walks away, trying to disappear into the crowds once he gets there. What were those questions even for, anyway? He should have just said "no" to begin with, but Paolo was never good at that. Regardless, the overzealous interview leaves him on edge enough though that he's not paying much attention as he walks, giving off a tense, pissed off energy that's liable to seem directed toward anyone he might accidentally bump into -- at the very least he'll stare at them with an accusatory intensity like he's just waiting for a whole new barrage of questions to start, before finally saying: ]

All right, all right... well, go ahead. Let's just get this over with.

2, oh my god that is such a wonderful pb

[tautness]

[ It's the early hours of dusk, when the last traces of sun are sinking behind the sky. As such, Barry's not paying attention either, looking around, eyes drawn upward to the sky more often. He's chancing it being out this early. But weird world, weird rules, maybe weird sun? He hates that he has to chance it but hey, might as well chance it. It's because of his absent minded staring that he straight up smacks into Paolo, not paying any attention in the first place.

The most unique thing about Barry is his clothes: those dull green bell bottoms and tight gray t-shirt just scream 1970s. And he just withers under Paolo's accusing glare, shrinking into himself, almost ready to stammer out something along the lines of 'I'm sorry', 'my bad' or 'I totally wasn't paying attention, dude.' Except for Paolo manages to get his words out first.

Still looking like a deer in the headlights, Barry continues with a confused, ]

Uh, what?

[ He has no idea what this guy's talking about. ]