NOVEMBER TEST DRIVE

[modormenace]

TEST DRIVE MEME
MENACE WITH YOUR MASKS

01. HEROPA, FLORIDA 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.

It's time for the annual sand castle building contest! Heropans have taken to the beaches to flex their creative talents. Though they're really stretching the concept of "castles" with some of these designs. There's also a beach bod contest. Participate and earn your season pass to free meals and coupons.

There's an extra way to win this year! If you post to the ImPort network and work in a little shout-out, they'll consider it free promotion and give you some merch to wear.

02. DE CHIMA, VIRGINIA is a large city with a healthy economy, with large numbers of citizens waiting to be awed by your very presence. 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 remains high here, and you may find yourself cornered by overzealous imPort fans, media wannabes and opportunists alike, shoving cameras in your face.

The holiday season is upon us! And oh, De Chima's holiday shopping is something to behold. Every new fangled gadget you can possibly imagine is on display. Rocket boots, jetpacks, fully articulated robotic tails - there's something for everybody! And you're welcome to take it for a test drive. Just don't try to leave the shopping center, or you'll find it stops working.

The custom boutiques are eager to pull in any ImPorts with a unique look to model their tech. And anyone who looks strong may find themselves guilted into running security. You're assured that there is no chance of anything happening!

And yet, Frostmaker Industries is showing off its new driveway cleaner. A highly unstable invention that malfunctions midway through the demonstration. Now, every snowflake has sentience and is connected in a hivemind - uh oh, better brace yourself to fight snowzilla.

03. MAURTIA FALLS, PENNSYLVANIA has carried a reputation for ups and downs ever since imPorts began appearing. More so here than the streets of any other imPort city, the battle between good and evil looks more like a war of escalation than a heroic tale. Everything from the classic bank heist to brutal bloodbaths can happen around the corner. You have to keep your eyes open and your mind sharp when you live in Maurtia Falls, and hostility against imPorts can spike. The emergence of locals with superpowers is hardly helping...

Even the dour people of Maurtia Falls seem to be brightening up as the year draws to a close and celebrations fill its streets. While they still aren't keen on ImPorts, they are excited about the leaves changing color. They have their own city festival to celebrate it. Leaves are a really big deal.

People wear bright outfits mirrored after fall and early winter. They share festive drinks and free food is given out on the streets. It seems like even crime is taking a break today. Maybe this is a good opportunity to do some good? Or perhaps the peace and quiet is just what you need to kickstart your own criminal empire.

04. NONAH, NORTH CAROLINA is the liveliest of all cities; loud, busy and there's always some kind of energy in the air that gets everyone buzzing with excitement.

This year is no different. The mall is jam-packed with people rushing to do last minute shopping. Now the best deals are on as merchants try to offload their overstock, but the usual energy of the city is in overdrive. Perhaps that's why it's no surprise when someone cuts the lights to the mall, rappels down from the skylights, and gleefully informs you that you're all hostages in the greatest heist of all time.

(Bwitter is blowing up with #bestheist there is a chance that this is a Bluetube prank gone too far.)

This is your big chance, though. Do you play hero? Or do you go along and help these wannabes live out their tropey criminal dreams?

05. JEOPARDY, NEVADA by all rights shouldn't exist. A glowing neon city smack in the middle of the desert, the only reason it's still here is that the central nuclear power plant has tapped half a mile down into a subterranean lake for its water supply. So though the desert around it may be barren, the occupants of this small city are happily self sufficient. Those weird figures you see out of the corner of your eyes? Don't worry too much. Probably just weird radiation after effects. Jeopardy has a lot of those.

There's even more neon around than usual as the festivities ramp up. According to tradition, their goddess lays down to sleep during the coldest months of the year. And so, tradition demands that they party long and hard to give her sweet dreams. There are a number of bizarre celebrations happening. A lifesize game of pin the fly on the web, forture tellers at every corner eager to tell you what the Ancient Web Mistress dreams for you, and celebratory bug flavored snacks. The dress code appears to be anything goes so long as its silk, and if you don't have any, don't worry, they can hook you up.

At midnight they set off an array of fireworks. They say if you hold hands with someone as the moon sets, your destines will be entwined forever... and since your hands are getting a little sticky from all the webbing around, you may find yourself accidentally attached to a stranger.

06. The HEROIC HALL is a state of the art combat dome in De Chima. Engineered by the best and brightest on the planet, its futuristic holograms are as real as they come. There are safety features in place to keep things from getting out of hand, and they usually work. Usually. But any scenario you could possibly dream of is at your disposal to use. There are a number of pre-programmed options for you to choose from, ranging from the mundane like saving a cat from a tree, to the extreme such as stopping the apocalypse. There are even convenient scripts so you don't have to come up with your own zingers, and every session is recorded so you can watch your own greatness!

Uncertain? Well, the hot ticket this month is SCENARIO 34. Have you ever wanted to fight a Yeti? Here’s your chance! Scenario 34 features the greatest hits. A hulking yeti rampaging through town, a (poorly programmed) love interest relying on you to save them, and a (equally poorly programmed) romantic rival who is trying to steal your Yeti research! Of course can’t do this on your own, this script was written for two! Find your new teammate and stop the menace!

Once it’s over, don’t be surprised if you’re approached by the eagle-eyed talent scouts that refuse to take not interested as an answer.

Comments

Corwin of Amber | The Chronicles of Amber

[thepattern]

01. Heropa

The first thing Corwin does is find new clothes. Well, no. The first thing he does is try to get the fuck out of here, and get back to Fiona. He was in the middle of something important, you see. Trying to stop Brand from attuning to the Jewel. Though... the Jewel seems to have arrived on this strange Shadow Earth along with Corwin, so maybe getting back to Brand was less of a matter of import. Still, he would rather be back in Amber than here, so he tries to contact a sibling, any sibling via his deck of Trumps. No good. Looks like he's stuck here for the foreseeable future. He'll try shadow walking back to Amber once he can get himself a vehicle, but for now, he needs to blend in.

Therefore the first thing he does after all of that is said and done with, is find new clothes. His regular silver and black is all well and good, but the cloak with the silver rose at its collar is a bit outside of the local fashion of Earth. He finds himself near a beach with some kind of contest going on, stating that they're giving out free merch for anyone who gives a shoutout on social media.

What the hell is social media? Earth wasn't like this the last time Corwin was there. Time seems to be playing a strange game, here. But, it's quickly enough explained to him, so he gets out his nifty little phone and sends off a blast.

Sand castle contest at the beach in Heropa.
Come test your mettle against the finest
sand crafstmen Florida has to offer.
#sandcastle2k20 #someonepleaseexplainhashtagstome

That done, Corwin is gifted a free t-shirt with the logo of the contest on it, which he gladly changes into, sticking his tunic and his cloak into the canvas bag with the rest of his swag.

02. De Chima

Trying to walk through Shadow, north towards Amber, only lands Corwin in New York. This Earth's New York. He can't seem to leave this bloody plane of existence. This is beginning to get to be less of a mild inconvenience, and more of a substantial roadblock in his plans.

Backtracking, he makes his way to the shining imPort city, De Chima, Virginia. He'd always liked Virginia. Something about the sloping hills and the picturesque bay reminded him of Amber. No looming Mount Kolvir, but maybe that was for the best. He starts to explore De Chima on foot, leaving his rental car parked at the Gate facility (Interesting, those Gates. He'll have to explore those later.) and striking out towards downtown. He's stopped shortly into his travels by a band of roving reporters, pegging him for an imPort based on-- what? How did they know? Probably the branded t-shirt he was still wearing from the sand castle contest down in Heropa. Oh, well.

They ask him a series of 'getting to know you' questions, about where he comes from, who he is, what his powers are. "Powers?" he chuckles, deflecting. "I don't know what you're talking about. My name is Carl Corey, I'm from upstate New York. I have no powers."

"Nonsense," they insist. "All imPorts have powers! It should say so in your file!"

He thinks about the file he had been given in Cape Canaveral. He hadn't thought to look at it too closely at the time, wanting nothing more than to get the heck out of there. He'd left it in his car at the Gate parking lot.

"Excuse me," he says gently, trying to extricate himself from their questioning. "I think I have somewhere I need to be, suddenly."

But the reporters won't be deterred that easily. He might be needing some help getting away from them.

0X. Wildcard

[ Want something else? HMU @ millennialfalcon / Chris_#9103 to plot another starter. Will match prose or brackets! ]

De Chima

[helpdesk_hero]

"Oh come now, don't you think it's impolite to bother someone new so much? There is so much one is figuring out in the first days," a voice says as they come up from behind Corwin. And look, the microphones are shifting toward him, and the cameras.

Sometimes it helps to be an online personality.

"Mister Alleyne, a comment please about the current social media campaign for..."

"No comment," David cuts in, waving the question off as he looks at the reporters. "Now please, if you want an interview, you can go through my agent. In the mean time..."

He raises his hands before him, and a wall of golden-yellow energy forms between David and Corwin and the reporters. One second nothing, the next it's just the light forming a solid barrier, if thin like paper.

"Come on, time to exit," he tells the stranger with a smile.

Re: De Chima

[thepattern]

Alright, now here was someone who looked like he knew his way around this insane place. What's more, he looks like he has a handle on the media presence too. Corwin's already impressed before the wall of energy goes up at but a mere gesture of the other man's hand. Then, he's curious.

"Neat trick." But they can talk about that much later. Best to get away from the paparazzi while they have the chance. "By all means, lead the way. Mr. Alleyne, was it?"

01

[deadwenwalking]

"Oh, you get a t-shirt for it?"

Wen Ning asks the question to this complete stranger before he can help himself. Look, he's all about the free t-shirts right now. He has a collection going.

Pulling out his own phone, he hesitates posting something directly on the network. Perhaps he can put it up on a social media account of his that no one knows about and nobody follows (because there's nothing there). Then he can delete it later. That sounds dishonest, but it isn't as if these people are going to remember he did it and try to take the shirt back later, right?

Then again, maybe Wei Wuxian would love building a sand castle. Who knows?

He peers over at the man again, the lower half of his face covered by a surgical mask. "What does it look like?"

[thepattern]

Unimpressed, but hard pressed to turn down free clothing, Corwin holds the t-shirt up against his torso. It's baby blue, the color of a wide open sky, with a picture of a large red plastic bucket and shovel with sand spilling out of the top of it. Emblazoned underneath the image are the words, "14TH ANNUAL SANDCASTLE CONTEST" and "SHOW YOUR RESTING BEACH FACE."

Corwin shakes his head, scoffing. "If that's what passes for a catchy motto on this Earth, then staying here's going to be a real trial."

Fuuma Monou | X 1999

[cardboardkun]

02. DE CHIMA
[Everything about this place was completely out of his depth. And while things had been... very weird back home, at least he had Kamui with him to try and figure things out. But waking up, alone, in a government facility, being told you were stuck there, that you'd been injected with nanites - whatever those were - and that you now have super powers. It was a lot. Then, on top of that, everything else here was strange. Phones were just screens that you tapped and could also take pictures somehow? Cars that hovered?? Going from 1999 to 2020 was a rather big jump.]

[All Fuuma wanted was somewhere quiet to sit and get a drink. Maybe a snack too. Try to wrap his head around it all.]

[Unfortunately, being a somewhat tall Japanese teenager in a black school uniform was apparently enough to give him away as an ImPort. Back home, it was pretty easy to blend into a crowd. Now, his wandering around trying to find a cafe or something was drawing a crowd.]

I'm sorry - excuse me, please, I'd like to get through...

[Polite to a fault, even with how stressed he was feeling. But he was clearly losing the battle of trying to somewhere quiet to relax for a minute.]


06. THE HEROIC HALL
[Frankly, Fuuma had no interest in being a superhero. He was happy to help people who needed it, sure, but usually that was more like carrying their groceries for them, or helping them rake their yard. The superpowers and superhero business was a bit too much like what Kamui seemed to be getting dragged into back home and... Well. It had lead to his father being murdered and his sister going crazy.]

[But then he'd started hearing things. Voices. At first he just assumed he was losing it too. But then he realized the voices matched the people who were around him. That was when he actually bothered to read the list of superpowers he had supposedly been assigned.]

[The deepest desire in someone's heart. That's what he was hearing.]

[It was deeply uncomfortable. What was also uncomfortable was he seemed to have the same kind of powers as Kamui. Thankfully, those hadn't manifested on their own like the pseudo-mind reading had.]

[But maybe someone who did have interest in being a superhero could help him figure out how to control his assigned powers. So a training hall seemed like a good place to find someone who might be able to help. Now he just... had to actually talk to someone. And ask. Right. He could manage that, couldn't he?]

[So far he had only stood near the entrance to the place looking awkward.]


07. Wildcard
[Hit me up with something else instead! I am game for just about anything, though Fuuma will have basically no idea how to use his powers.]


((For anyone who is old knows X, this is indeed Fuuma before he turns evil, but with all the powers of his evil self, for extra suffering. For anyone who doesn't know X, one of his powers is to 'hear' the deepest desire in someone's heart, even if they aren't aware of what it is. So sorry about that. Please be nice to him though he's a very good lad.))

Heroic Hall

[shelterednomore]

[If there's one thing that Lorna's accustomed to, it's people not being able to control their powers. Not because she's ever really had an interest in superheroics, but because she's grown up on an island nation filled with mutants. Many of Genosha's newcomers had come from countries with anti-mutant policies, and thus, hadn't had the opportunity to grow and learn proper control.

A life on such a nation has developed good instincts for who's new to their powers, and who probably had them already in their own worlds. She hadn't planned on trying out the Heroic Hall today, but maybe it's time for a change of plans. Which means trying to overcome some of her shyness to reach out and be kind to someone. She can hardly be a good queen one day if she can't even do this, she tells herself, taking a deep breath before she approaches.]

Um...hi. The Heroic Hall looks like an interesting place, doesn't it?

[It sounds stupid. She's sure of it. But maybe he's feeling too awkward to notice?]

Re: Fuuma Monou | X 1999

[monster_san]

[Like the crowd of people around him, Fuu does pick out the young man in the Japanese school uniform as an imPort. Unlike the crowd, she has much more sympathy for his obvious desire to be anywhere but there.

She slips her way through the admirers and clears her throat a little to get his attention.]

Excuse me--if you wouldn't mind accompanying me, I'm here to bring you elsewhere.

[She has her best polite and helpful face on for this. There are other things she can try if he's too cagey, but she's hoping the simple approach will work.]

jin guangyao - the untamed

[guangyao]

[ ᴅᴇ ᴄʜɪᴍᴀ, ᴠɪʀɢɪɴɪᴀ ]
[ It doesn't take long for Jin Guangyao to start looking around once he's been given the lowdown of this place. None of it makes sense to him, it sounds like he's been pulled into another world but how could that be? One moment he'd been in Guanyin Temple then the next in this place. Not only that but things were bright, out of place and downright unfamiliar. They had tried to explain things upon arrival yet even then it hadn't sunk in and so Jin Guangyao had set off to look around, to see if there was anything remotely familiar he could focus on.

It's only when he's in the Mall in de Chima that the young man realises that no, none of this is familiar. If this was what came after death he almost feels cheated though it doesn't stop him from talking to those who approach him and wanting to take a picture of him with their phones. Jin Guangyao has no idea but he gets the gist of it, putting on the appropriate demeanour of someone who really shouldn't but will oh so humbly oblige. So many people seem to appreciate him as an "ImPort" and a small part of Jin Guangyao wonders if this place is really that bad; sure everything is weird but the people seem to appreciate him for the most part. That alone is a step up!

Jin Guangyao allows a few more pictures to be taken before he excuses himself, taking advantage of his smaller stature to escape the crowd only to be cornered by an overenthusiastic sales person. They exclaim something about his attire before talking about something called a robotic tail. It's difficult to follow and Jin Guangyao does his best to look mildly interested as he tries to keep up, his memory soaking in as much as it can in terms of phrases and terminology, names and places. It's only when the salesperson mentions other ImPorts that Jin Guangyao's smile freezes into place, jaw tensing as a swift realisation kicks in. The mood instantly changes from one of curiosity to dread, as if suddenly doused with a bucket of ice cold water.

There are other ImPorts here.

He knows it's too good to be true, that if he's here and there are others from all kinds of worlds that the odds are not in his favour. Who else from his own world has shown up? Jin Guangyao looks around as if expecting the other Clans to suddenly start closing in on him, forgetting that he's meant to be listening to some sales spiel about a robotic tail. Would they listen to what he has to say or kill him on the spot? A mystery and not one Jin Guangyao wants to know the answer to, not when things seemed to have calmed down. Now things are swiftly changing, Jin Guangyao quickly changing the priorities in his mind. He'll need to find out everything he can to get any kind of advantage he can!

However, running won't do him any favours right now and so Jin Guangyao simply adjusts his poker face, turning to the nearest person and holding out the robotic tail with a small smile. If he can shake off the salesperson then leaving won't draw any attention to those who could be watching him.]

This person's wares are said to be the best.

[ It's not throwing someone under the bus, it's a strategic exit!]

[ ᴊᴇᴏᴘᴀʀᴅʏ, ɴᴇᴠᴀᴅᴀ ]
[ Jin Guangyao once against finds himself at the mercy of terms he doesn't understand as he arrives in the town of Jeopardy. However he's still drawn to the bright lights of the town, how it contrasts with the desert around it. Most wouldn't think to build a settlement here but for the most part everyone seems happy enough, though occasionally Jin Guangyao catches a glimpse of something from the corner of his eye only to find nothing when he looks.

The festival upon first glance seems harmless enough though soon enough things start seeming a bit weird, even for this world. The fact everything is spider related and the things that flit on the outskirts of his vision do nothing but compound a sense of foreboding. Perhaps this place isn't the best to be staying in after all....

The fireworks provide a great chance to make an unnoticed exit, providing a cover for Jin Guangyao to leave without having to make excuses. There's a moment to take note that even the fireworks here are flashier than back home before Jin Guangyao turns to leave, slamming slap bang into someone. He puts his hands up to steady himself and the other person, already apologising as he does so.]

I am sorry I was not looking where I was going —

[ Jin Guangyao pauses, concern suddenly a very real expression as he tries to remove his hands from the other person. He's not even paying attention to who the other is as he tugs at his hands, frowning slightly as they refuse to unstick from the unwilling person. Why won't they move? What is this? Why? ]

[ ᴡɪʟᴅᴄᴀʀᴅ ]
(ooc: anything is fine, feel free to PM this account. will match prose!)

Jeopardy

[ze_uwu_jun]

[ Xichen is out late because he was working, but it was an early night so he could catch the fireworks. Which are beautiful, and he doesn't really mind as someone bumps into him...

... and then breaks out in goosebumps at the voice. ]

... Sect Leader Jin.

[ Quiet, so quiet. He is dressed in modern clothes, a white suit of good cut - and silk, because he does favor the fabric, being too used to it - so it is not quite too strange to not be recognized in the dark and the crowd, not immediately.

But... ]

de chima

[disasterstraight]

[ Who else from his own world, indeed? How about a ghost from his past?

Having recently relocated from Heropa to a villa on the outskirts of De Chima, Jin Zixuan is still getting used to the shining, bustling city. In a way, it is reminiscent of Lanling. The gilded halls would match the shiny wares of the leading industrialists and inventors to a T. Jin Zixuan doesn't need any of their fancy new inventions today; he's only come to town to pick up a few things for the home he and his son have moved into. But he's thoroughly and completely distracted from all thoughts of his shopping list when he hears a familiar voice, speaking to a salesperson nearby. ]

A-Yao?

[ His half brother had been among the first to greet him when he arrived in this world. Although he had learned of all his future misdeeds, and still could hardly fathom the motivation behind some of them, the pair of them had reached a sort of understanding. The Jin Guangyao that had been here had sought help for his madness, and that fact alone had gone a long way in redeeming him, in Jin Zixuan's eyes.

By this point, Jin Zixuan is keenly aware that, even when a familiar face appears, they may not remember being here before. So he is cautious as he approaches the smaller man. ]

It is you. You've returned.

de chima

[deadwenwalking]

[Wen Ning hasn't come across anyone new from their world since his own arrival. Lady Jiang had vanished before he'd been able to meet her, but after that there hadn't been any major changes in the roster of people from their world in the past couple months.

This is definitely a major change.

He would recognize Jin Guangyao anywhere, even if he wasn't dressed in his usual clothes. The fact that he has both arms gives him pause. It could means he's from an earlier point in time. Or maybe it doesn't. He won't know until he speaks with him. And he's going to speak with him - here, while he's out in the open with no one else protecting him.

The puppet might be dressed differently, casual modern clothes in place of his robes and a mask over the lower half of his face, but the lines still running up his neck are very visible and make him unmistakable to anyone even remotely familiar with him.]

(option 1.)

[When the robotic tail is held out, Wen Ning takes the opportunity to quickly grab the shorter man by the wrist so he can't run off. He takes the item from it with the other.]

It does suit you, Brother Jin. [There's a sharp edge to the way he says Jin-xiong that stands out from the otherwise casual greeting.] But you've already spent too much money today. [He hands the tail back to the salesman with a quiet thank you and begins leading Jin Guangyao away from the stand.

What small advantage he has over the other man knowledge-wise in regards to this place allows him this bit of boldness. In a one-on-one fight he's not sure how he'd fare. Either way, this man is a danger to his people, so he can't be timid.]

(option 2.)

[Wen Ning stares at the odd-looking tail, then back up at Jin Guangyao.]

Really?

[He doesn't look at all interested in what the salesman has to offer. No, his attention will be completely on this enemy of his until he has reason to divert it elsewhere.]

Maybe later. Everyone's been looking for you. We should go home.

[Wen Ning won't really be taking the other man back home, of course. But the look in his eyes promises a chase should the former sect leader decide to run.]

Jeopardy

[xue_yang]

[Xue Yang has since gotten used to the weirdness around the place and since he lives in Jeopardy, the festivals and parties are almost boring for him now. But the fireworks are kind of new and so his face is turned upwards and he doesn't see the person he is running into..until it is done.

Slightly annoyed he looks down as he starts to try and push away but then pauses when he sees exactly who he has collided with. The familiar voice pulling him from his initial annoyance.

A small smirk comes to his lips.]

You should be careful who you run into. The person might be dangerous.

Jeopardy

[blackwaterchild]

[She hates this place, she thinks to herself, irritated by it all. The crowds are annoying, too many people accidentally brushing up against her, their thoughts and feelings invading her head. Her ability to ignore it often isn’t tested like this, but it starting to give her a headache. It’s all so fake.

The flashes of something in the corners of her awareness are certainly not helping matters either.

She watches the fireworks for a few seconds, not feeling terribly impressed by them, before she attempts to use her small stature to her advantage and slip away herself.

And of course ends up colliding with someone. She makes an annoyed noise, but the smile she wears looks natural enough, her tone pitched in a more friendly, disarmingly girlish tone.]

Oh, no, it’s fine! No big deal! Accidents, you know? [She laughs brightly, smile still fixed in place when it seems he. won’t let go? ??? Or can’t?

Her smile remains fixed in place.] Um...?

Jeopardy (More sticky adventures? :D)

[gusumouthcannon]

Considering Jingyi lives in Jeopardy and that the festival is within walking distance, there is no way that he is going to miss out. The silk-wearing thing is an issue, but he ends up wearing a long robe belted over a pair of silk pajamas, all in Lan blue. It would be almost like a cultivator's outfit, if the cuts were not entirely wrong and the robe was not more like what someone would wear to bed. Jingyi hopes he can take them home. They are very, very comfortable.

But. The point: the parties that Jeopardy holds are just weird (so many spiders), but they universally have all sorts of interesting food. And entertainment. And interesting people.

This particular festival, he stays pretty late into the evening for the fireworks, glad to already be in what absolutely are, he has decided, going to become his pajamas. He is tired by the time they are fading, so when he gathers up his sword, starts to head home, and bumps into someone familiar and cannot un-bump into them, he can only blink and squint at them for a long second.

Then: "Oh. It's you!" He has his headband on, but he honestly does not think Jin Ling's Evil Uncle will recognize him. Which is fine, because he is more interested in, "Did you die already?"

Nie Huaisang - The Untamed

[qinghe_oriole]

02. DE CHIMA, VIRGINIA

As the Nie Sect Leader, Nie Huaisang is used to having eyes on him, but the people here are strange and aggressive in a way he's not used to. Maybe he should have accepted the change of clothing he had been offered, but he loves these robes. The fabric was from a weaver in Yunmeng, an absolutely brilliant talent he'd tried unsuccessfully to lure to Qinghe.

The people holding up the odd little tablets want him to smile and pose for them. Someone shouts a phrase he doesn't recognize and a few people laugh. Nie Huaisang flicks his fan open and covers half his face with it. "No, no," he says, with a nervous smile. "Not me, you're not looking for me. I don't know anything."

The marketplace is astonishing. He's never seen such a variety of wares for sale. He watches as a large screen painting is created before his eyes, with no paper and no ink! Well, nothing could keep him away from that. He spends a good hour or more bent over a tablet and a stylus learning about digital art. The merchant is remarkably patient. Nie Huaisang knows the small amount of this world's currency that he has in his pocket isn't enough for this craftsman's goods, but the man doesn't seem worried. He presses a card on Nie Huaisang and promises a discount if Nie Huaisang mentions him on Bwitter. Nie Huaisang thanks him and saves the card and resolves to find out what Bwitter is as soon as possible. It has been a long time since he really knew as little as he claimed he did and it's not a feeling he's fond of.

He wants to take a look at everything, and it's late in the afternoon when he finds a robotics booth. The merchant tries to sell him all sorts of gadgets that let you fly without spiritual energy. Nie Huaisang is intrigued, but he knows his own limitations and he's not sure if strapping "rocket boots" to his feet would really be good for anyone. But he lets the merchant strap him into a "jetpack" and it's not bad, really! He's gliding down the street with ease, until someone steps in front of him without looking and Nie Huaisang crashes right into them.


05. JEOPARDY, NEVADA

Nie Huaisang loves a good party. His fan dangles from his belt, leaving his hands free for food and drink. He tries a few of the snacks and picks up a small cup of roasted cicadas. He's "taste tested" a number of different wines, and he's feeling quite warm and rosy. He's worried about what's happening back home, about how they're functioning without him there as Sect Leader. He's kept the sect together all these years even while keeping up the facade of ignorance and incompetence. True, the sect's reputation had suffered a little with him at the helm, but the sect hadn't. He'd kept his people safe and well-fed, and his cultivators were as strong as ever.

He had smart, strong people helping him run the Nie Sect and Da-Ge would have been proud of each one of them. They would be fine. Maybe it was good for Nie Huaisang to have some time to himself. He glances at the bottles of wine up for offer and asks the person next to him, without really looking, "Have you found a favorite?"

Jeopardy

[ze_uwu_jun]

Xichen is not here for much of the celebration, but he has come to learn. And he is mostly passing by when the familiar voice makes him still in his track.

"Ah - not, not really. Have you, already?"

de chima

[deadwenwalking]

Danger, Wen Ning's instincts scream at him, and he catches sight of the approaching form out of the corner of his eye. Flight isn't an uncommon power for people to have here, but this seems somewhat uncontrolled. He would move, but he would rather they make contact with him than the unsuspecting people behind him.

So he braces his feet against the ground and uses the jet pack's momentum to spring them both upward, into the air and out of the crowd.

"Sect Leader Nie!" comes the exclamation while they're both in the air and Wen Ning has a chance to recognize him. "D-do you know how to turn that off?"

Jeopardy

[chenqing_player]

Wei Wuxian has stopped getting surprised about who he sees arrive in this place. It seems that this world intends for all of them to be there at one point or another. And so when he sees the familiar back of a former friend..there is hesitation. He knows the things that Nie Huaisang did, also understands his reasoning for it. But that doesn't necessarily make it okay.

But then again...is the Yiling Patriarch really one to judge another person's actions?

So he strolls up and waits for the other man to recognize him. When he asks the question, he simply smiles as he looks over the selection.

"I prefer Gusu's Emperor's Smile over anything else."

Kyoka Jiro | My Hero Academia

[eardrums]

[A - De Chima]

Could you back off? Please?
I mean, I'm glad you're so excited or whatever, but c'mon - I've only been here a little while! You gotta gimme some time to get my bearings, you know?

[There's a lot less exasperation in her voice than would probably be normal, considering the complaint's coming from a teen girl - but honestly, it'd be weird to be unused to this sort of attention, being part of UA's Hero course back in her own world.
Usually, Jiro's pretty good at just ignoring them - or in some rarer cases, thanking them - it's just... well, she has more than a few people trailing her, and really, she's just trying to check out all the shopping on her lonesome. She hasn't been here long enough for everything to really sink in as "real", and having a group of imPort fans following her around is certainly not helping.

... Spotting another imPort, though, it's obvious she's gotten an idea, and suddenly she's pointing at you.]

Hey, what about them? They look like they're dying to sign something - go get your autographs, I bet they even have a pen!

[Look. She's so not above pawning her issues off on bystanders. Sorry, kind of!]

[B - Also De Chima]

[This whole spiel ain't half bad once people are finally leaving her alone, at least. Now that she's not as distracted, it's a lot easier to appreciate all the cool tech being shown off in every inch of the shopping center.
In fact, it's even given Jiro an opportunity to try some of it, herself! Specifically? She's been eying some sort of hover boots for a while now, and finally, she's getting a chance to try them out.
And she'd have to say, they're pretty damn cool. Getting to skate over the shopping center's flooring with ease as if she's light as air, weaving around simple obstacles once she's gotten the hang of it - it's great!
It actually reminds her of something she saw someone do back in her own world, so it's not long before she's whipping out her jacks and pulling herself along like zip cords, enjoying the speed she's managing with it.

Until someone manages to wander right in front of where she's headed, of course. Every TDM prompt has to have at least one cliche, right?]

-- Oof!

[She ends up tumbling over whoever was unfortunate enough to end up there, completely eating cement as she lands face-first against the ground... and it takes her more than a second to actually get back up again, shaking her head a bit as if she needs to straighten her brain back out.
And then, spat over her shoulder at whoever she'd tripped on:]

You think you could start watching where you're going? It's not safe to just walk right into someone's path like that, you know?

[C - Jeopardy]

[This has to be one of the weirdest things Jiro's seen in a long time, but hey, she's not gonna knock it. If some remote city in the middle of a desert wants to celebrate some kinda giant spider goddess or whatever, who's she to judge?
(Which is to say, she's judging a lot, but at least she's trying not to.)

That does mean she's walking down one of the brighter streets as the festivities go on, though, eying a sketchy looking centipede lollipop someone gave her not too long ago... there's something about it that seems to be bothering her, but on closer inspection, it's not hard to see what it is.
She passes it off to her free hand, her face scrunching up as strings of webbing - or maybe sugar? Who knows really - stretch between the candy's stick and her fingers before she breaks them off.]

Geez, could they make this stuff any stickier? What even is this junk?

[Whatever it is, it's definitely made the snacks around here pretty unappetizing. ... As if bug-flavored candy could be appetizing to start with.]

[D - Wildcard]

[OOC: The usual song and dance! No need to PM me, if you have an idea just go for it! And please stick to brackets, if you can; mild dyslexia doesn't play nice with prose much.]

A is for AAAAAH I'M SO EXCITED!

[recommendations]

[ The imPort who Jiro directs the crowd of hangers on towards is a tallish teenage girl with a large black ponytail, facing away for the moment, but as soon as she hears a reporter calling her name, Momo turns, plastering on the usual calm smile she reserves for such occasions. Having been in this world cumulatively for over a year now, she is well used to the level of attention its media puts on imPort heroes-- and those imPorts who choose not to become heroes, as well. ]

Miss Yaoyorozu, can you comment on the sales of this year's hottest new gadgets released just in time for Christmas?

[ She nods, about to issue some bland answer about how she hasn't had much of a chance to put the new gadgets to the test, when she spies the familiar face who beset this hungry crowd on her. Her eyes light up, and she breaks out into a huge smile. ]

Jiro-san! You're here!

[ All thought of answering the reporter's question goes out the window, as Momo carefully but quickly makes her way through the crowd over to her friend. ]

When did you get here? Oh, I'm so glad to see you!

B: I heard kids needed gentle harassing

[facepalmchampion]

The walk had been pleasant, if it weren't for the fact he knew that likely around this time new faces were going to start popping up once That Time™️ and That Gala™️ started. Thankfully, lately, they had been from the league of villains and he was more than content in their arrival. Finally they were starting to get together again and they could start using each other's strengths to start pulling this world apart piece by piece the moment it showed its underbelly.

Which maybe if he weren't internally monologuing to himself about how great all these plans were going to go if he decided to act on them... He wouldn't have felt that thud against his chest and she was extremely lucky that he had experience in moving his hands quickly. Cement was the best thing she could've eaten, she could've bitten the dust instead.

Again an easy dodge of someone spitting in his direction. She hadn't noticed or didn't know. One of the two, but it was amusing to see someone from 1A face down on the floor, useless and petulant. Ah. He missed that.

"I just finished telling someone the other day the great importance on semantics. Now, you're not really the sort to be that vulgar, are you?" Since she was down on the ground, he squatted down by her knees, hands dangling off the ends of them while his forearms rested there. "Maybe you are?"

A is for ALL MY LOVE FOR JIROU-CHAN ♥♥♥

[floatsaway]

[Ochako was in De Chima mostly for shopping. She wanted to get a radio, or something similar, to plug her communicator/phone/tablet/whatever the hell it really is into to play music through the house while she was cooking or cleaning. With her hair tied into a small bun at the back of her head, Ochako was really enjoying herself without too much hassle from fans. Seems they really got their fill at FanPort - the ImPort convention a few weeks prior. But still--]

Ah.

[Maybe because she wasn't as recognizable from behind, or dressed down as she was, Ochako wasn't being manhandled by ImPort fans as much as usual - those who knew her as Uravity. But, being called out by someone, those that do recognize her immediately call out and begin to squawk and flock toward her with their cameras at the ready. The grimace on her face is clear as day as she takes in a deep breath and prepares to put on her friendliest face, but she might...have a word or two to say to whoever just threw her under the bus.

That is, until she actually zeroes in on the face and those familiar earphones. Gasping both with surprised and sheer joy Ochako all but bulldozes her way through the people approaching her, muttering apologies to them and promises of "in just a minute!" to their wants for autographs and selfies, because she needs to make sure that's--]

Jirou-chan!!

wildcard but kind of a

[wattlimit]

[It started out great.

He was someone who always fantasized about being popular, having fans wanting to know everything about him and taking pictures whenever they could. He grew up a little jealous of the Pro Heroes who lived that kind of life and he'd lie if he said it wasn't part of his motivation for becoming one himself.

However this was. A Bit Much.

He's finding himself running through a packed shopping center, trying to find his way away from the question hungry crowd, and that's when he sees someone familiar. Without thinking he grabs her by the arm and ducks into a shop, pulling her by his side as he hides behind a display and watches the crowd through the storefront window.]

NEAL CAFFREY || WHITE COLLAR

[conning]

MAURTIA FALLS

Neal is in pale charcoal slacks and a black turtleneck, being pinned against the wall of an alley. There is also a knife to his throat, and he looks exceedingly uncomfortable for some reason.

"I don't have anything else on me, but I'm sure we can work something out."

"Haven't seen you around before. Haven't heard your name either." The guy with the knife shoves Neal's sleeve up, revealing the mark on his wrist. "That's what I thought. Where's an imPort get that kind of cash, huh? How long have you even been here?"

"Cash is easy. You want it, I can get it. Of course I'd rather not have a knife to my throat if we're going to negotiate--"

One of the other thugs punches him in the stomach, hard, and Neal wheezes, barely staying upright. It's mostly the knife that keeps him in place.

"This isn't a negotiation," knife man says. "You're going to do as we say, or you're going to regret ever coming to this city."

Neal manages a smile that's as charming as it is sarcastic. "Oh, believe me, I already have regrets."


DE CHIMA / NETWORK

Neal studies the camera for a moment, a tiny smile on his face. He's outfitted in a black turtleneck, hair perfectly coiffed, with the background of a swanky bar behind him.

"ImPorts, huh? I like it. Sounds exotic, and I've always been a fan of the exotic." He considers the camera for a moment.

"I've been reading the local news, investigating the general history of this place a bit--but nothing beats first hand accounts."

"So what d'you say, De Chima?" He glances behind him, indicating the bar, and gives the camera the full benefit of one of his dazzling smiles. "Let the new guy buy you a drink."


NONAH

Neal is out enjoying the local color. In a manner of speaking. He's been here about a week, at a hotel that he may or may not have scammed his way into with a fake name and someone else's credit card.

He's also outfitted himself with a custom suit and acquired a trilby in that time. Cardinal rule -- image is everything.

Right now, he's migrating his way through the holiday crowds, lifting wallets from targets who've flashed more cash and cards in the past hour than good sense. Does he need to do it? No, not really. But it's something to pass the time.