etcelsior | WAKE UP IN THE MORNING FEELING LIKE

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WAKE UP IN THE MORNING FEELING LIKE

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?

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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.]

[ 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.

[With his luck, he should have not been as surprised as he was to hear Clarisse's voice out of the blue, but what can he say? He can't help being anything but. Ares' kids just always had that abrupt and alarming-"oh man" effect on situations as far as he was concerned. And, well, Clarisse herself always, sorta, put a small level of dread in the pit of his stomach.

Especially when it sounded like she was upset.

Gods, Zeus, dear Poseidon or whoever, why was she upset? How could he have done anything to her before even seeing her--

Oh.

Well.

Naturally he couldn't do anything but smile sheepishly - in no way nervous at all! - when his eyes turned to her.]

Clarrise? ...Hey! Sorry about that. Swear I didn't see you there. So. How's the weather up there?

[How is that for an attempt to break the ice? No good? Well, no one ever said he was good at it. (Or smart all the time.) But, um, at least he truly is as apologetic as he appears? One hand raises just in front of himself, though. In case.]

[Luke Castellan had better days. Most of them happened after arriving in this world, but you can't really go too long as a half-blood before monsters started catching up to you.

This dumb, trusting, naive kid, checking things out like he could handle anything that came his way. (He probably could, Luke thought, a bit sourly.) It would be easy to just go back into old patterns, hate him, fear him, despise him for being able to do what he hadn't. For being handed the right fate, when he got the wrong one.

But he still needed him. (He owed Percy, dammit.)

None of that made this easier.

He crosses his arms, hands far away from the sword at his belt, and leans against the railing.]

What? Not good enough for a Hero?

[There was something vaguely (perhaps eerily?) familiar about the voice that rang out from behind him, but Percy couldn't pinpoint it until he turned and his eyes fell on the figure leaning on the rail. Then he was sure he wasn't imagining things. Right there was Luke.

And, of course, Percy looked at him like he was ghost. Because that's what he was. Or should have been. Because the last time he checked, Luke was...well, you know. So he remained hesitant for a minute before easing enough to voice the most important question that came to his mind.]

Luke?

[He had to know if this was the Luke who could be considered somewhat redeemed or the Luke who was going to be a problem. (Ghosts were tricky like that, after all.) Not knowing which it was put him on edge.]

[He looked too solid to be a ghost. But then, if he'd escaped the Underworld, he certainly would. Mythology had all sorts of loopholes and Luke had been particularly good at manipulating those before.

Luke lets out a long breath, one he wasn't aware he was holding. He'd been here before, he knew what could happen with timelines was the same sort of unreal and disturbing things that could happen with death. The fact that Riptide wasn't out and going for blood said some things about this maybe not going all to Hades right off.]

The ah... [He gives a wry, bitter smile.] one and only.

[Well, let's just say Riptide wasn't out was because he wanted to give Luke the benefit of the doubt. But he would uncap it if need be. So far Luke wasn't making him any more nervous than he already was. And the whole ghost thing? Still a valid assumption.

(Sooner or later, though, he'll notice the whole solid thing.)

For now, Percy lets out a cautious breath and fixes a steady look on Luke. He hadn't a clue what side Castellan was on just from his statement or expression just now, so even more questions popped into his head. And he sorted them as best he could, most important to least. All of which were then was as good as thrown out the window because his best response ends up as:]

Right. So it is you. Uh, and... How are you here?

Unless you managed to get zapped here directly by some god, [It would happen. That would totally happen. That would be his luck.] I'm gonna bet it was the same way you are.

The alive is a nice bonus. I'm not going to complain on that.

[It's a bit hard to believe coming from Luke, but he realizes it was probably the same way. The portal it was called, or something. Whatever it was, it brought them to a different place. And here Percy was starting to get the feeling it could do anything, as even Luke was here.

Alive even.

Wait, back up. He finally seemed to take notice of the alive part since it was mentioned. Everything else Luke said before that just swirled away.]

And what are you planning to do now? Last thing I need is trouble from you right now.

[Luke shifts just a little, leaning his elbows on the railing. It looked casual enough, but if he had to move... He eyes Percy critically. Was he still under the Curse of Achilles? He remembered, under that oppressive storm of ambition and hatred little flashes of the last battle. Enough, if he had to.

He puts on a well schooled look, casual, tired.]

What makes you think I want anything to do with this? What we are, Percy? Is no big deal here. Kinda nice, actually. No monsters, cell phones wont bring down all of Hades on you, no parents throwing you out on a couple thousand swords for entertainment.

Right now, my plans include a few college credits and a nine to five.

[There was no immediate answer he could think of to that, so Percy shifted his weight from one foot to the other, the corners of his mouth twisting. Honestly, though? There was probably some reason out there that could be thought of to why Luke would want to be here, he thought. It was nothing he could think of, though. And he kind of wished Annabeth were here to help.

The rest of what Luke said had some ring of truth though, so maybe he could give him the benefit of the doubt? Make nice. It was still hard to decide. So he kept his eyes close on him still.]

School? That's it? You're going to school? ...And working?

[What world was this again?]

I'm not even sure what's going on anymore.

[The temptation to spook him, go all the way over the top was real and present. He was well aware that it was a good way to get a fight on his hands, at the very least. He couldn't afford that.]

Look at it this way... When have we ever been dragged out into some bizarre, dangerous and disruptive mess, where all of the rules get turned on their head for something's entertainment and there wasn't a reason for it?

Mostly stupid, self centered reasons, but there's a good chance there's a plot or an agenda going on.

[He leans forward, an old anger breaking that casual mask. He speaks precisely, biting off syllables.]

Whatever it is? I want nothing to do with it. I'm done.

[It would be a very good way to get a fight on his hands. Percy is definitely not counting out that possibility just yet, even if it seems like the more they talked, the less it was necessary. As it was, Luke seemed mad at the gods, not at him. It ws the same old story. So maybe this there was something to be agreed on with that.

Percy couldn't say there wasn't a god or goddess or two that made him grumble. As weird as it was, he could relate a small bit more there.]

Sure.

[He nods, wishing he that didn't. It was weird agreeing with anything Luke said after all, but truth is he did think of that. Truth is playing house or super hero never made sense and it among the first of his first thoughts. It is also one of his thoughts that they can't do anything about it 'til they know what it is they're dealing with, so, that didn't leave any him choice but to start with what he could do.

He tenses up when Luke forward in his old anger.]

Okay... Say I believe you for a second. We're going to have to set some ground rules.

Like personal space, just to start with. I didn't sign up for anything just to get into a fight with you.

["Say I believe you for a second." He didn't need years of manipulation under his belt to know an impending cave when he heard one. He didn't smile, just dropped back against the railing, lifting both hands in casual surrender.]

If I wanted a fight, it'd be over by now. How about another ground rule: You go your way, I go mine. We leave each other alone.

[For Luke's years of manipulation, couldn't he have picked better words than "it'd be over by now"? Percy definitely thinks it wouldn't be that easy for him anymore, not with all the things he's been through, but . . . okay, taking a breath out. He tries not to let it show that it bothers him. Just focusing on how they seem to have an agreement.

He falters before, yes, actually caving to his own agreement.]

Good. If you do what you say you're doing, you won't have me getting in your way.

But no funny business. Just do your school stuff or whatever. [Did Luke say what he was doing exactly? Percy wasn't exactly paying attention.]

[On the contrary... Luke expects the outcome would be the opposite. Luke didn't have Achilles Curse anymore, and the last HE remembers, Percy survived the end of all that mess. He's a practical person - it's why Percy WAS a fear that drove him near the end.]

Or whatever. [He lifts a hand and drops it in an empty gesture.] I think I can stick to that.

What in Hades are you --

[ Sputters a certain gloomy demigod, now with his dark hair clinging to his skull in plastered clumps. He grits his teeth, trying not to get too mad. It's not entirely working. ]

Watch where you're going with that. [ He bites out the syllables sharply. If he'd known it was Percy, he'd be a bit nicer about it, but. Well, he's been here before. And there are a shocking number of people here who can manipulate water. ]

[What is it about today and familiar and eerily threatening voices? Percy thinks. First it had been Clarrise, now it was -

Turning to look at this new figure, he spots Nico, smiles though apologetically. Nothing seems too wrong in his book since the kid looks as gloomy as usual.]

Nico - man, is that you? I thought I was watching, but didn't see you there.

[ Likely about the same as Percy last saw him, even, minus some very small variations in clothing. Same gloomy getup, same dark scowl aimed in Percy's direction. ]

Obviously. What are you trying to do?

[Same lack of enthusiasm too, apparently. But that's only because by comparison Percy was feeling pretty enthusiastic playing around with his abilities before this little accident. That takes a bit of a dive now.

And his attention flickers between Nico and the puddles he was focused on before.]

Well, um, obviously, not trying to drown you. I was just practising a little... My powers don't have the same feel here.

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WAKE UP IN THE MORNING FEELING LIKE

Percy Jackson | PJO/HOO-verse

b & my body is ready

b &

A I wish I could feel sorry

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