TEST DRIVE MEME #014

[larkers]

> TEST DRIVE MEME #014

Welcome to the Meadowlark test drive meme! After waking up in strange and rather worrisome conditions, characters will need to begin to live their lives in this new world. All TDM threads take place after the arrival process, so please assume that the initial adjustment period has passed – in which the characters were dropped off behind a bar run by previous arrivals who then direct them to live in a safehouse for four days before hitting the streets. Now it's time to see the bright sights and sounds that New Amsterdam – and beyond – has to offer.

All Meadowlark test drive memes will not be game canon because of the nature of our arrival logs. Please feel free to carry on relationships that make sense, but please keep in mind that the TDM may not reflect current circumstances in game.

Applications open every month on the 1st of the month at midnight UTC (00:00).

NOTE: The PCs have chosen to call themselves "the Displaced," and that's become the common parlance to refer to them.

All applicants can use threads from the TDM for their samples.

> SETTLING IN

There is very little that can smooth over the experience of your arrival in this world. Coming to your senses in a van, drugged and restrained, only to be carefully helped out by the unknown guards and nurses and then abandoned in an alleyway of a local sports bar by the name of Red Wings. What comes next is relatively straightforward: you're found by the employees at the bar, all of whom were once left in a similar situation to this one. You're brought down to a safehouse across town that's hidden underneath a soundproofed garage that's been kitted out for training purposes. You'll learn that you aren't among the first that this has happened to here. There are others not from this world who have experienced the same, with no recollection of how they came here. Like you, they have few answers about what's happened to them. Maybe this knowledge brings you a growing sense of futility, or perhaps it inspires a deeper determination in you. But even as you begin to think on what to do next, life has to go on.

All of the new arrivals will be given a fake ID and a background that will lend them access to entry-level jobs. It may be overwhelming, but their fellow Displaced have found their footing enough to be able to help the newcomers. Two Morningstar agents by the names of Gaby and El will be around to take care of world integration and IDs – the rest will fall to the Displaced who arrived before. It would take at least a month's wages to put down a deposit on even the smallest apartment in the city, so everyone has a grace period before they have to leave the safehouse – and then some, depending on the kindness of who's running the show.

Gaby and El will also make their purpose clear if asked: they are a part of Morningstar, a group dedicated to fighting corruption, tearing the capitalist oligarchy down to nothing, and trying to help make a better world. It will be made expressly clear that this entire arrangement to get the Displaced situated in the world is meant to be kept a secret, and that especially includes Morningstar's assistance. Letting the world know about their involvement could cause big problems.

> EXPLORE THE CHANGES
Despite the lack of answers about why you're here, your fellow Displaced will be able to give you a rundown of the changes they've recognized in each other. Anyone who had powers before will find them gone. Anyone who was once an AI or in a completely artificial body will find that their current body is now fully human. Those with cybernetics will find that they've remained mostly untouched, though any primitive ones may be replaced with temporary ones that are improvements on the previous models.

◉ NEW POWERS. In the place of any powers that were lost, there is now a new power. These abilities are unique to each of the Displaced and seem to update over a certain period of time, with the changes appearing thanks to critical emotional events. One thing that's apparent is that the power seems to be linked to the Displaced individual's personality or life before this one, shaped according to who they happen to be. When this power appears, their chest glows with a blue light that shines from their sternum, and it can be triggered by anything: natural inclination or a moment of great stress. If someone's out in public when this happens, they might want to duck under cover lest the blue glow from their chest and the unusual power's appearance draws unwanted attention.

◉ EMPATHY BOND. No matter the circumstances or the conditions, every skin-to-skin touch of the Displaced triggers this empathy bond. Whether they touch hands, brush cheeks, or knock into one another on accident, they'll be met with the emotions of the person they've touched. Every instance of skin-to-skin contact will trigger an immediate empathic bond, letting you feel the other person's emotions and vise versa. While there's nothing that can be done to completely prevent this, someone can either decide to hold on and continue sharing that level of emotional intimacy, or let go and end the shockingly vulnerable exchange. If someone is particularly tactile but not fond of sharing their emotions, they might want to invest in a fashionable pair of gloves.

◉ MEMORY SHARE. In the past year, the Displaced unlocked the ability to share memories similarly to how they can share emotions. While unknown at first, the Displaced soon learned that they could share a memory with each other the same way they could share emotions. All they need to do is focus on a memory and touch the skin of their fellow Displaced, and then they could pass this experience along. These memories are shared through the eyes of the giver, granting the receiver a unique insight into the thoughts, feelings, and sensations during a specific moment in their life.

◉ DREAM SHARING. Once one, two, or five Displaced fall asleep, they may be able to find each other in their dreams. These dreams lead to the dreamers themselves feeling lucid and somewhat in control of their surroundings—though the control itself is ultimately dependent on the dreamer and how well they come around to understanding what's going on. Dream logic applies with the flow of time, but no one is able to spend their entire lives there. Lost powers are still gone for any of the Displaced, but they can use their dreams to practice any new ability that they've received. Memory shares and empathy bonds are just as possible within these shared dream states—if anyone doubts that another Displaced is really there, they can test the empathy bond to see if it activates.

◉ POWER SHARES AND UNIONS. The Displaced can share something of themselves with another Displaced by offering them an object that comes out of their chest. This object is meant to be symbolic of the person it comes from and significant to them in some way. When someone else takes hold of this object, they will get a sense of the owner's essence, along with temporary access to their in-game ability. Only when they give the item back do they give up the power in question. In addition, the Displaced are able to act in unison and create a fusion of their powers, making it so they can fight someone else with them at once. This ability is there from day one, but the power's ability will only ever present at its current stage.

> THE NETWORK
When the Displaced first showed up, Morningstar set up a private network for all of the Displaced to use in order to communicate. Most of the veteran Displaced are old hands at using the implant now, and will be happy to provide any necessary information on how to utilize this new tool and understand its application in daily life.

Early on, every newcomer receives access to the encrypted network, only available to you and the others like you, making contact between you easy and safe. Familiarize yourself with this network and dig in. Perhaps you're hoping to find some bigger answers, ask about the current nail polish trends in New Amsterdam, or want to play a game of "hot or not" among the Displaced.

◉ IDENTIFICATION. Everyone who gets set up with an ID gets access to Morningstar's network. In order to ensure that none of the Displaced stand out like sore thumbs, Morningstar's agents El and Gaby ensure that everyone has a name that makes it so they fit in among society. All usernames are thusly formed as firstname.lastname, with some room for creativity (Ziggy Stardust has now been among the Displaced twice).

◉ PRIVATE COMMUNICATION. There are private, one-on-one modes of communication available as well, though without the security of Morningstar's encryptions, they're much less safe. You can make calls, send texts, make videos, and even interact with others in a VR simulation—however, it's made very clear that the government has a means of tracking this communication. Big brother is always watching.

> RESOLUTION DAY FESTIVAL

The day of April 26th is known to all United Nations citizens: it's Resolution Day. To everyone around the world, it was originally thought of as the day that the burgeoning United Nations finally rescued humanity by eradicating the last known AI lifeforms. This act took place in 2101. However, recent circumstances have revealed that the United Nations had lied about this fact. For over four hundred years, they kept the AI Judas locked away in their military headquarters in New Beijing. During his enslavement, Judas was forced to create technology to serve the UN's purposes, helping turn their soldiers into a hivemind-like group that would always fall into line.

The Displaced know that there are more AI in the world. El, the Morningstar agent who helps create everyone's IDs, is one of them. This is a secret hidden away from the rest of Morningstar due to the massive anti-AI sentiments. The other is Cassius, a space exploration AI who brought chaos to the Displaced before switching sides to become their ally. None of this is known to the world at large.

Of course, El is linked to the war itself. El was formerly known as Elysian, the AI who accidentally kicked off the six-year-long Xelkoven War between humans and AI. Once a security unit, Elysian killed 50 households full of people as ze believed them all to be a threat. The war was ultimately named after the largest artificial intelligence distributor at the time: Xelkov. Ultimately, a billion humans died in the war, and there was the very real risk that the rest of humanity could have followed if they hadn't advised a method to put the AI down for good. Even though humanity lived on, artificial intelligence did not – save for the three aforementioned AI.

With all this coming out, people in this world aren't psyched to celebrate Resolution Day for the reasons they had been taught growing up. But they're still interested in a day to celebrate each other and humanity's survival.

The citywide celebration of Resolution Day starts early and finishes very late, so whether you choose to join in the fun, learn more about the history of the festival, or take advantage of the revelry for other, more nefarious goals, you'll have plenty of time. As the festival sprawls wildly throughout the streets of New Amsterdam, it gives even the most desolate parts of the city new life with bright lights, noise, and plenty of food. Most businesses are closed for the day, but not all of them—if you've gotten yourself a restaurant, street cleaning, or corporate PR job, you might find yourself stuck on a double shift. Better snatch what small moments of enjoyment you can!

> ENJOY THE FESTIVITIES
Anything you'd think would be at a festival in the year 2512 is definitely at this festival. Food, games, dancing, alcohol, free stuff? It's all there for your enjoyment. While the city streets will be full of people, this isn't a bad day to try networking. Want to get a new job or find a way to pry some information out of someone when they're least likely to remember you? Try to butter them up—or use the powers you've been granted to get your way. If anything goes badly, at least you can slip back into the crowd.

◉ GAMES. Care to play a game? All attendees can play for free. Some games —like the hoverblade racing, the augmented reality fightboxes, and the street-wide bouts of laser tag—require a partner or a competitor, so you better hope someone's willing to do you a solid or bring out your competitive side. For anyone who's interested in something a little less hands-on, all of the city's biggest VR arcades will have setups with all the latest games. Hoping to get noticed for your gaming talent? This might not be the day to try to stand out, but anyone's down to try.

◉ FOOD TRUCKS. It's time to try the delicacies of New Amsterdam. Hundreds of food trucks have turned out today in droves with high hopes that they'll come away turning a profit. Down for some Mexi-German fusion? Or perhaps you're hoping that pad thai still tastes the same with grasshoppers? Share your food – or give away whatever you don't like. Food trucks are the hub of activity, and the busiest ones might be worth the time, but you'll be standing in line for a while.

◉ NETWORKING. There are other opportunities with the city being flooded with festival-goers. Whether someone is on a mission to try to test the current sentiments toward Morningstar or simply wants to charm some corporate execs, this might be the time to get it done. Whatever your cover story is, make it good. Whether you claim you're hoping to pitch an idea for some new tech or are more interested in seducing – or squeezing – some information out of them, following them into the next bar or karaoke booth may give you the perfect chance. But you might want a lookout to watch your back, a co-conspirator to keep them plied with drinks, or maybe you'll need a voice of reason to stop you from squeezing too hard. Discretion is the name of the game. Everyone can agree upon that.


> HISTORY LESSONS
Aside from your typical booths of free samples, charitable causes, volunteer applications, and white chocolate-covered beetles, you'll find an opportunity to learn about Resolution Day’s history. There are various stands available where—thanks to the augmented reality application of your neural implant—you can view videos about the origins of the festival and the reasons for celebrating. If you haven't done your initial search yourself, you'll be able to buff up on it here. These booths tell the United Nations' version of the history with zero reminders about what came out about Judas.

◉ VR SIMULATIONS. If you'd like to feel like a hero, the UNA are running several virtual reality simulations where you can be taken to the battlefield to fight alongside fellow soldiers, working to bring the outwardly robotic AI to submission. The virtual reality simulation interacts with your neural implant to give you the most realistic experience possible. If you don't ground yourself enough, you'll be certain that the sights, sounds, and smells around you are real as you march in formation toward the brutality waiting up ahead. Feel free to team up with a partner on a side mission, or maybe try to keep someone from plugging in for what could be a traumatic experience. Eerie, heart-wrenching music plays when you die, but is promptly followed by the image of several corporate logos reminding you that they sponsored this day and this event.

◉ SYMPATHIZERS. If you're uncomfortable with the concept of eradicating all AI, no one will understand why. AI sympathizers are not present among the native population. Everyone in this world has been raised with the understanding that AI only wanted to destroy humanity, and that everyone is lucky to be alive in spite of it. They have a deeply ingrained fear, and anyone claiming to formerly be an AI or android won't receive a very friendly response. Even if they know the UN used Judas for centuries, it doesn't mean they're any less afraid of artificial intelligence: they've been raised to believe that all artificial intelligence was out to eradicate humanity.

> CRIMINAL ACTIVITY

Traveling down from the hectic main city streets reveals a different side from the gloss and promise of New Amsterdam. Economic disparity runs rampant throughout the city, and many people are pushed to desperation, looking to find other ways to make ends meet. In the darker shadows, many illegal activities thrive, out of view of the authorities—or perhaps known and supported by corrupt individuals. Maybe you're out exploring, completing a task for Morningstar, or working a job in the place you excel. Whatever brought you to the rougher parts of town, you may want to watch your step, or else find the city eating you as it has so many others.

> ORGANIZED CRIME
Organized crime still has a strong foothold in the world, with gangs and more established families working with drugs, weapons, property, and black market cybernetics, to name a few. These organizations are sprawling units that regularly recruit new members into their ranks, so long as they can prove themselves by passing the intensive hazing. While there are two main mob entities in New Amsterdam—the Riverstone Mob and the Petrov Family—there are a handful of gangs that otherwise roam the streets. Some are loosely sponsored by the mob, while others are fledgling groups trying to gain clout. More than anything, these groups know they don't have the power of the corporations or government, and do everything to seize more power when they can.

◉ JOINING UP. Catching the eye of the mob is difficult, but not impossible. Getting into the larger gangs is less difficult, but they're still wary of anyone who doesn't know the ins and outs of how to duck surveillance, traffic drugs and supplies, and intimidate people without catching flack from the NAPD. The best way to start getting attention is through their clubs, casinos, and illegal gambling dens. Getting inside isn't always easy: it might take a few weeks of legwork to get an invite, but someone could try to strongarm their way inside or use some chicanery to make it a smoother endeavor.

◉ ESCAPE PLAN. Whether you went in to cause trouble or accidentally caused it by breathing the wrong way, it's good to have an escape plan in place. Does that mean fighting all the goons available? Maybe. What about stealing a hover bike and getting away? The good news is that hover bikes can fit where hover cars can't.If you've got the skills, you'll be able to weave through the chaos of the city and make a clean getaway. Just don't let the chase run for too long, or you'll have law enforcement on your ass as well.

> FIGHT CLUB

No matter the occasion outside, New Amsterdam's fight club events are held every evening. The bouncers at the door don't have too many scruples on who they let inside. All they care about is whether someone has the money to pay the cover charge.

The interior of the fight club reveals the sophistication of a business that's used to uprooting itself regularly. All the fights take place in a large cage in the center, and you remain on your feet while you enjoy the show. There is a special VIP section if you've been lucky enough to receive an invite or bribe your way in – just keep in mind that these invites are scarce, and you will have to have done something spectacular to earn the attention from someone high up the food chain. Regardless of where you end up, there is one rule: what happens in the fight club stays in the fight club. This tenant is law, and everyone's heard stories of the different (and sometimes extreme) lengths that have been taken to maintain it.

◉ FIGHT. It's time to sign up and test your chops against other fighters. Many of the fighters boast illegal cybernetic enhancements, so it would be a really good idea to have someone on hand who knows some first aid. Fights can either happen in duos or in one-on-ones depending on the signups for the evening.

◉ RINGSIDE CHAT. You might just want to enjoy the show, or use the opportunity to grill the bartenders for information. Just be careful not to make a fool of yourself. Asking too many questions might catch the wrong kind of attention – the kind that might find you being thrown into the ring, whether you wanted to be there or not. For all the blood spilled, these fight clubs thrive on discretion, so whatever you do, try to keep it quiet.

> A LIFE OF CHAOS

Life in New Amsterdam was once all festivals and people avoiding association with organized crime. Life in New Amsterdam these days is full of drama, citywide disturbances, and everything else that might be expected of an action film in progress. While there aren't many answers for what's happened to the Displaced, there is enough chaos going around that it seems like it may be connected to their arrivals.

The worst part is that New Amsterdam seems to struggle. Rather than being an anonymous backdrop to those action films, New Amsterdam is a bustling city full of life that never asked to be at the heart of this. When trouble hits, most repairs and restorations focus on helping those with money, while others are left forgotten living in tents and hoping for a helping hand. Recent circumstances have called for improvements in this area—there is more charitable work than ever before in New Amsterdam—but it's still a trying time.

Where the Displaced stand in all of this varies, but it's hard to ignore a city in trouble.

◉ DISPLACED VERSUS DISPLACED. Whether it's by manipulation of an outside force or through inhaling weird monster gas, sometimes the Displaced are at odds with one another. When some of these few heroes are fighting, it means that the city can be left in even greater danger. Other times, the Displaced might not be able to control themselves. Feeling a sudden surge of vengeance and hoping to follow through on it? That monster gas might be the cause. Want to finish out a nasty deal to get something back important? The monster gas won't be an excuse, but maybe someone can pretend it was. Life as a Displaced is wild sometimes.

◉ MONSTERS. As for unconventional threats, there are the monsters. These creatures first turned up in giant form when the first batch of Displaced arrived, stomping all over New Amsterdam. The less unique version of the monsters are around 400m high, have lizard-like features, and tend to show up by tearing down a portion of New Amsterdam's city wall And that's the less unique version. More unique monsters vary in size and make, seeming to be an amalgamation of a number of different creatures. Half-snake, half-dog? Seems odd, but it happens. Hell, we even have a bestiary of some of what can be found. The one consistent feature of all these monsters is they all have golden irises. Suffice to say that running into these creatures could be a problem.

◉ SIMULATION. There aren't many AI left in the world, but the most notorious of them – Judas – definitely has an axe to grind. Once the leader of the AI effort as they sought to destroy humanity after countless AI were wiped out for humanity's "protection," Judas is now well aware that he's only one of three left in the world. Getting a little payback against people is only fair, isn't it? His favorite means was via a simulation, dragging people into a post-apocalyptic hellscape where humanity was forced to live underground and live out repetitive scenarios where they had no choice but to play along or feel like they couldn't survive. This stimulation interacts with the VR technology built into the neural implants, stimulating adrenaline and fear exactly when Judas wants it to do just that. Why? Oh, torture. Why not? Oddly enough, Judas doesn't create any facsimiles of other AI. He takes full ownership of what he puts people through once he takes control. Sure, Judas is a little screwy but after 400 years of captivity, no one can really blame him, can they?

◉ LEAD A REVOLUTION. Just because a world has free health care doesn't mean it's working for all of its citizens. Thanks to a variety of screwed up things over half a millenia ago, this world ended up permanently corrupt. Corporations act as training grounds for political positions, and while nobility is a thing of the past, wealthy families continue on thanks to the oligarchical stronghold that controls the world. Time to change some things up. Either by working with Morningstar or alone because of an urge to create some chaos, this world is ripe for change. Are you going to be the one to bring it about?

> GO NUTS

Feel free to branch out and explore! Visit a doctor about some advanced cybernetics. Sneak through the city checkpoints and set out into the wilderness. Try to hop on a train bound for one of the world's five spaceports to see one of the colonies—though bear in mind the cost and difficulty of one of these joy rides. Experiment with some insect based versions of your favorite recipes. Perhaps you'd prefer to engage in some illegal street racing, spend some time getting used to the technology, or try to become a social media celebrity. Use the SETTING for inspiration and choose your own adventure!

> NAVIGATION

Comments

laura moon . american gods

[apathet]

THE STREETS

[ Waking up in a bed that isn't yours surrounded by things that aren't yours in an apartment that used to be yours with a badly patched hole in the wall twice your height likely isn't anyone's idea of a good time. So, she thinks as she stalks down the hall toward the elevator (out of order) and takes an abrupt turn for the stairwell (mostly not a mess), she can be forgiven for the glass she threw when a stranger in her kitchen asked her what the hell she was doing there. She and her body that feels and her mind that buzzes, full of a digital landscape that wasn't there when she doesn't remember drifting away, can be forgiven for whatever words poured out of her mouth and whatever small pieces of property damage she inflicted on her way out the door.

Soon enough Laura Moon is out on the street, each step a blow to the ground at her feet, and though she's small she makes no move to give way to any oncoming pedestrian traffic.

So it's inevitable that she eventually slams into someone, shoulder barging into a torso or an arm. And when that someone doesn't automatically crumble, she lets the momentum of the impact spin her around so she can try a different kind of violence - ]

Get the fuck out of my way.


THE FIGHTING RINGS

[ She needs to figure out where she stands, how long she's been gone, fill in the gaps. Where to go, then? She knows exactly where, and it doesn't take much asking around to find out where the fights are going to be held for the next few nights. Inside, she can be found... ]

a) [ Watching the cage, betting small increments here and there but mostly just standing amongst the rabble, quiet and sharp-eyed, intent on both the fighters and their audience. ]


b) [ At the bar, nursing a bottle of something disgusting and catching the bartenders in snippets of conversation when they're not busy. Anybody who presses up to the bar in an attempt to flag one down will get a: ]

You got a minute? I'll buy.


c) [ Getting into a fight that isn't in the ring. Somebody gives her the final thoughtless shove in a long line of shoves and she snaps, shoves back, shoves hard. But she isn't what she used to be and she's forgotten what she is instead. So rather than sending them through a wall, she's hardly got time to shriek out surprised and furious pain from the awkward twist of her arm before someone's rounding on her.

At 5'1" and barely any pounds, clutching her damaged limb, she doesn't look like anyone who's ready to absorb a hit. ]


FOOD TRUCKS

[ Catch her perched on a bench somewhere, absolutely decimating the selection of different dishes perched haphazardly around her: on her thigh, on the bench, in her hand, some half-finished and some not yet started. She's making a mess, sauce all over her fingers and down the front of her shirt, but she also visibly does not care as she tears into some kind of vegetable skewer dripping in a rich brown sauce. ]

Fighting Rings, C

[notathreat]

[Ellie isn't much taller or heavier than Laura is, but she's got several inches on her and a few weeks of square meals rounding out her face. Whatever's behind the Displacement can take the girl out of a vicious survivalist world, but can't take the vicious survivalist out of the girl.

So when Ellie hears the stranger cry out in pain, it's not so much a thought as being both nearby and having an even halfway functioning sense of empathy.

And... very little sense on the self-preservation front.

So Ellie reaches out, grips the young woman by the back of the shirt, and hauls her bodily out of reach of the blow, which whizzes right by Laura's face.

With her other hand Ellie reaches out for the nearly-empty beer she'd been drinking, grips it by the neck of the bottle, holding it at the ready as she edges in front of Laura.]

Don't you fucking start this shit again, Kyle. If you wanna punch someone get in the ring.

[For approximately one second, Kyle appears to... consider this. But ultimately, Ellie fails the diplomacy check. So when he takes a heavy swing at her, Ellie brings up the bottle and shatters it heavily against the side of his skull. A raucous cheer goes up around them, but the bouncers are alerted anyway, and start fighting through the crowd to get to them.

As Kyle staggers, Ellie gives Laura a tug on her uninjured arm, careful not to touch her skin.]

Go go go-

[And whether Laura sees fit to follow or not, Ellie is off, tugging her through the press of the crowd.]

If you make trouble here, they throw you in.

Fighting Rings, b

[crofted]

[ Lara is about ready to get into a fight and make some money (it seems to be the easiest way to get ahead of the curve for the new arrivals, and the sooner she has to be through with it, the best) but before... maybe some liquid courage might come in handy.

The drinks of the bar seem rudimentary, strong and cheap; if anything, she won't need much to get comfortably numb enough to feel okay with breaking the bones of a few adversaries.

She's about to call one when the lady next to her chimes in. ]

Would you? Why? I don't think we've met before.

kai parker | tvd

[hiyakai]

EXPLORATION

[ okay. super cool. internal dialogue, kai.

as much as he would love to rattle about the twisty turviness of his life to someone right now, he can't exactly compel them to forget or, you know, snap their necks. well, no— he can still totally snap their necks, but it's probably not a good idea to start killing people for funsies when he just arrived here not all too long ago.

man, it would really make him feel better though! less antsy and fidgety, and bottomless pit-y. like a stress ball that could sing (or, in this case, crack).

(also, is bottomless pit an emotion? because if it isn't, then it really should be one.)

anyway, he doesn't have access to magic here and, even if this city was brimming with it, he can't siphon anymore. it's... conflicting how that makes him feel, so he's just going to ignore the black mass of complicated that's bubbling up inside of him with every single little reminder.

man, he REALLY wants to snap someone's neck right now.

well, whatever. time to get a lay of the land, meet some people, make some friends, have a snack — so, let's start with this person. ]

Hi, I'm Kai. What's your name? [ everything will be okay. ]

FOOD TRUCKS

[ everything is going great! he always wanted to eat at a food truck. looks like he hit the jackpot here. the street is swarming with them. some of the things on the menus don't sound super appetizing, but hey, don't knock it 'til you've tried it, right? what's the worst that can happen? ]

What is the craziest thing you've eaten here? I just had the slimiest wrap ever. It tasted kind of like jelly, if jelly came in pink bubblegum flavor and had the same consistency with unidentifiable meat chunks in it.

[ pity the poor fools who are standing next to him at the moment because, no, he isn't talking to anyone in particular. ]

Do you think dragon meat exists here? Because if it does, then I'm pretty sure that's what it was.

[ he is just going to keep yammering away until someone stops him. ]

Or maybe it was unicorn...

WILDCARD

[ gimme whatever your heart desires! voicelog or pm for chatter. ]

food trucks aka what am i getting myself into, an autobiography by sebastien le livre

[livrer]

You've had dragon meat before, huh?

[ Listen, it's not that Booker doesn't believe you, kid, but ... well. No, he doesn't believe you.

To be fair, he hasn't been here for very long either, so the idea that mythical creature meat could actually be an option seems like something out of a twisted Brothers Grimm tale than anything else.

Meanwhile Booker has decided to opt for an unoffensive burrito, but now he's considering the ingredients. (Still tastes great though.) ]

EXPLORATION

[selfimage]

[ so this person only looks half interested, looking at the curves of his cuticles as they disappear beneath dark nails.

for a moment it's almost as if he doesn't hear him.

then!!! ]

Loki.

[ and he looks up. ]

Consider whatever pleasantries are currently in vogue exchanged.

Meetra Surik/The Jedi Exile | KoTOR II

[saucius]

LASER TAG

[ Meetra can be found outside the booths, holding both laser guns akimbo. She looks disappointed she can't play that way, apparently. ]

Hey, you.

[ Yes, you. She extends one of the guns towards the unsuspecting passerby she deems worthy of playing with her. So basically anyone. ]

I bet you don't have anything better to do. Come on, it's blaster time. Give a girl a hand? And another pair of eyes while you're at it.

FIGHT CLUB/CHAT THE CHAMP

[ Her opponent drops like a bloody bag of potatoes. It's the third on a row. Suddenly, there are no eager contenders making a line.

The woman brushes off the sweat of her brow with the back of her hand, glancing around. ]

Well? Who else wants a go? Stakes are getting high.

[ Silence.

Meetra smirks, turning to the man keeping tabs on the bets. ]

So if nobody is going to step forward, that means I get the money, right?

NETWORK

un:jedi.exile

This is, by far, the most backwater, low-tech, improbably underdeveloped planed I have been to, and I've been to Kashyyyk. How can it be this way yet have top of the line neural implants though, it seriously beats me.

At least that probably means the watering holes must be pretty good, right? The worst the place, the better the booze.

As long as I don't have to deal with Jedi or Sith or whatever in-betweens might be, I can't really complain.

WILDCARD

[ For whatever else! PM me at ~beoluve on plurk if you want to do something in particular. ]

Laser Tag

[taggingwomprats]

[ Luke was just walking past, still trying to figure this whole place out. But now someone is shoving a toy blaster at him. He pauses to give Meetra a look, blinking as he pieces this all together. ]

Wait, is this just blaster practice?

[ He takes the toy gun from her and gives it a once-over. It feels... depressingly toy-like compared to what he's used to. ]

For fun?

amos burton | the expanse

[baltimores]

> settling in

[ Being groggy and disoriented is never ideal, but it's not like this is the first time it's happened to him. That's just what life throws at you sometimes. The surgery is new, but--

his chest glows blue for a moment and that is more than enough to wake him up

Amos can feel his heart pounding, wild eyes searching around the poorly lit safehouse. Instinctively, he reaches for the proto-- whatever it is in his chest, his brain telling him there's no point, he's dead already, and yet still he tries to get a grip on it, rip it out like if he can get it off of him fast enough he won't be infected anymore, might have a chance at survival.

It doesn't work and he's not used to feeling anything at this intensity, but then again, this was never the death he imagined for himself. ]

Help! Somebody, help!

[ And that's an unfamiliar word, yelled with an unfamiliar urgency. Normally he'd be more composed about all of this. But he knows firsthand what the protomolecule can do, and he doesn't know what else this blue shit could possibly be, just that it's guaranteed bad news and this was maybe the one straw that would break his back. ]


> history lessons

[ Typically he wouldn't even care, but he's out and about and not particularly interested in socializing, and he'd stumbled on stands with information, the neural implant is handy and... well.

A war against AI is certainly interesting. He couldn't even comprehend something on this scale. Alex would have loved it on the Roci, he thinks, and cracks a smile, gives a sharp bark of laughter at a video that you're probably not supposed to laugh at.

Amos catches someone's eye at that. ] What? [ He switches back to an amiable, empty smile. ]


> fight club

[ He's not sure how he ended up here. Just the byproduct of aimless wandering, lost in thought, and his body naturally taking him to where he figures he'd fit in best.

Amos looks up at the ring, watching someone's face get caved in. He looks thoughtful for a moment; can feel a dull throbbing in his neck, something about being in this new world. This could help.

But then he remembers his family isn't here, he's all alone, and maybe trying to kick someone's ass for no real reason isn't the best idea. Who knows what else that could lead to. And if he's responsible for his own choices now, this might not be a good one to make.

Amos looks out around the crowd scattered throughout the facility, bewildered and lost. ]

settling in!

[evocation]

[Kyna still hangs out at the safehouse, especially when the new arrivals show up. She's nosy, to tell the truth, and she likes to see who shows up.

Usually, people are upset. They're nervous, or angry, or trying to get out, and she's used to all that. What she's never experienced is someone yelling the way Amos does, and so she instantly assumes something is very, very wrong. Something beyond the usual new kid fears.

So, she comes running, and her expression shifts from concern to clear confusion as she spots him... on a cot, clutching his chest? No monsters, no one dying, as far as she can see.]

What? What's wrong?

fight club

[laserbeams]

[ Homelander was only expecting to come here once. Beat one guy up, get it out of his system, and then find gratification somewhere that wasn't so...shady.

But then he got a great bit of advice from a new friend: no one's stopping him here, so he can do what he feels like. And it turns out what he feels like doing is caving some random guy's face in. Years of repressed rage came in handy here, who knew? He wins the fight, and he soaks up every bit of audience approval like a desperate little sponge.

When he steps back out into the crowd with bloody, raw knuckles and a bruise below his eye, he can't help but spot the guy who looks just as lost as he did a couple weeks ago. ] First time here?

[ Maybe the guy who just went absolutely feral in the ring wasn't the ideal conversation partner - but, really, he was as calm as he ever got after a good fight. ]

history lessons

[flowerpressings]

[This 17 year-old had been a little preoccupied with the videos himself, but he notices the man barking out a laugh and smiles gently, thinking of the way his uncle laughs at a particularly funny joke.

Tewkesbury startles when the man notices him, and blinks a little before answering him.]

Nothing, sir. Just nice to hear some laughter after-

[They're not supposed to reveal themselves, though, are they? He glances around unsubtly.]

After the mess it's been lately. No offense intended.

Luke Skywalker | Star Wars

[taggingwomprats]

Bad End of Town

[ Luke is new to this whole world; his disconnection from the Force is incredibly disconcerting, as is his inability to actually find any of his friends or figure out how he got here. A part of him thinks this might be some sort of Imperial trick, but he's also fairly sure the Empire would just throw him in a prison cell. There aren't nearly enough stormtroopers for this to be an Imperial outpost.

So how'd he end up here? No idea.

But somehow he's run into trouble. He's facing down a small group of toughs, hands raised defensively. ]

Hey, look, I don't want any trouble...

[ One of the toughs snorts. ]

Maybe you should've that of that a minute ago, huh?

[ Help? ]

Food Trucks

[ The food here is honestly a step up from the Rebel Alliance, which involved a lot of protein bars and other ready-to-eat stuff. So much so that Luke isn't quite sure what to try. It reminds him of some of the places he's been before, the air full of the buzz of conversation and the smell of a dozen different foods and strange spices. He's examining the menu for a place that is some sort of Mexican-Korean fusion, complete with lots of spice. ]

Hey - you ever tried this?

[ Sure, he probably doesn't know them, but that's not really an obstacle, is it? ]

Network

UN: luke.skywalker

I was going to ask if anyone had seen a little white and blue R2 unit, but considering how much they seem to hate droids here, it might be a bit of a lost cause.

Still, worth a try, right?

Wild Card

[ Choose your own adventure! ]

network; @glimmer.moon

[sparklequeen]

Sorry, I'm not sure what you mean by R2 unit. Or droid.

network | @jyn.erso

[realists]

No R2 units to speak of but there are robotic dogs.

What planet are you from?

[ JUST JUMPS RIGHT IN ]

bad end of town.

[evasives]

[ regardless of who actually started the trouble, cassian recognizes when someone would rather not be part of any trouble. there are pros and cons of intervening, and he does make a quick list in his head first, but ultimately he does find himself sweeping in. ]

[ he tucks his hand at the man's elbow, the gesture casual on the outside but there's a pressure in it that hints at the direction cassian is prepared to pull. ]

Now I see why you were running late. [ he looks over at the toughs, who seem a little thrown off now that their target isn't wholly alone - not that cassian is particularly intimidating in this moment. it doesn't stop him from looking directly at the leader, with that same casualness in his voice. ] Can you explain the trouble quickly? Our boss is waiting for us to begin.

[ it is very much a lie but it: 1) puts more witnesses out there 2) puts this imaginary boss into a position of power and 3) into a position to come looking for missing persons. with all this new information, the little gang sort of... shuffles. ]

food trucks

[flowerpressings]

[He didn't mind not knowing the stranger. Tewkesbury is always willing to offer a friendly smile or word to strangers. The 17 year-old looks up at the menu and shakes his head, though. He hasn't tried many things here yet.]

I haven't. I'm rather a picky eater. Perhaps we could split a dish, just to try it!

[Tewkesbury gives him a friendly smile with that last offer, hoping the man will say yes. He's hungry and not willing to waste a lot of money, when they're supposed to be saving up for their own place.]

Arkham Knight / Jason Todd > The Arkham Knight

[reassert]

FIGHT CLUB > BECAUSE JASON TODD.

⟨ There's an art in his brutality. There's precision in the way his elbows hit exactly the right place to shatter bone. He seems reckless but far from amateur. Jason holds his own. Takes the hits in stride. Hell, sometimes it looks like the man invites it. Lets those fists keep coming until his face turns numb. It ends the same way in the end. They're on the floor and Jason leaves a trail of blood from the mat, down the stairs, to wherever he chooses to go.

This time, Todd chooses to stay by the ringside. Curious, let's say. Sure. He's curious. Moments pass before his head turns to someone nearby. ⟩ I know I'm pretty ⟨ And the sarcasm in that statement is dryer than any desert known or unknown to man. ⟩ But words might work out better for you.


DREAM SHARING > BECAUSE IF YOU THOUGHT JASON HAD ENOUGH ANGST...
(cw: abuse & torture mentions)

⟨ Jason doesn't like to sleep. Sleeping is unsafe. It's where the monsters come out from their crevices; where he is not in control anymore. There are countless places his mind could wander in this depth of sleep and none, not one, was a place worth visiting. Thoughts wound endlessly until they settle in the dark, cold, isolated basement in which he was born--the putrid orange of his jumpsuit sticking to him by sweat and blood.

There Jason lay, one single overhead light flickering and swaying above. The stink of this place assaulted his nose until he could not smell anymore. Here were he had been punched, and drugged, and burned, and cut until he could not feel anymore; until he could not understand where one thing ended and another began. Where he was. Who he was. If he was even still alive.

It was the footsteps that reassured him. The rapid pace of his heart as eyes show open wide and he whined, struggled against the binds that held him, gripped tightly in the cocoon of fear. Terrified of who may slowly step into the light. ⟩

WILDCARD > FEELS APPROPRIATE

⟨ He's punching someone in the face. He's punching you in the face. He's tinkering with gadgets or a car or something. He's hanging out on a rooftop. He's having a panic attack. Who knows where the fuck he is or what he's doing, but here he is doing it. Cool right? Want him in a certain situation? Come at us. ⟩

|| ooc: hi, i don't know what i'm doing lmao. please feel free to hit me up on plurk for anything you might need or want ticklepickle

fight club!

[jettisons]

[Bellamy and Jason—the other Jason—had an odd relationship. Strained, maybe, is a good way to put it. He hasn't seen Jason in a while, though, and so Bellamy assumes he went home. This guy, though, looks just like him, and the rage is a bit of a tip off.

The scar is new. Maybe he went home and came back worse for wear. It's not like that's rare around here.]

Back, huh?

wanda maximoff | mcu

[magija]

.• history lessons

[ mostly, she just hopes to better understand the circumstances of what's happening here, what the future holds for this world since it isn't one that's her own. she's hesitant when she first connects herself, but what wanda finds in the simulations are visuals and experiences that speak too much to what she's seen for herself.

war-torn cities beneath a blaze of guns and bombs, sounds pounding away at her ears as she feels herself in the very presence of it all. the sudden shift of her atmosphere brings her back so many years, back to being a small fragile thing, tucking herself beneath a bed frame to cower away from the bombs as she stared at the missile still set to go off at any moment, lingering just a few feet from her eyes.

war, always war — wanda screams, hands rubbing across her shoulders, her neck, all to set herself free out of the vision, out of the false atmosphere, her breath suddenly heaving as she's brought back to the vr booth, not wasting a moment as she springs herself free from it, ducking outside to huddle down with bent knees. as she tries to catch her breath, her fingers press hard against her ears, trying to block away the sound that's no longer there, eyes clutched tight to fight her tears.

if anyone were to find her, to make physical contact with her, it wouldn't be difficult to fall into that memory with her, of a little girl hiding beneath a bed with her brother's arms tight around her, fearing for her life as she feels the tremors of bombs shaking the building around her, a bomb with the word STARK etched across it. ]

.• fight club

[ she isn't enjoying it by any means, her almost disgruntled expression making it evident that she's hardly impressed by the apparent show of flying fists in the ring. but it's a place of activity, of learning more from looser lips about the situation around if the opportunity came.

(in truth, it's simply better than being out there, alone.)

she avoids getting into the ring if she can help it, considering her lack of powers right now (or at the very least, ones she has control over) doesn't guarantee she'll be able to get out without a fair beating.

not everyone is so lucky though, as one fighter tumbles out of the ring, evidently having gotten their share of punches in there by the obvious bruising and scrapes in various places on their body. wincing as if she could feel it, she debates getting involved before sighing, taking some steps closer to them. ]

If you signed up to have a fun time up there, I can see that it worked out very well for you. [ sarcasm's probably not too helpful right now, is it? ] Do you need help to stand?

.• wild card

( feel free to change things up in the above scenarios as necessary to better suit your character's situation. if you want a different scenario altogether, i'm up for it, so just pm me with your ideas. canon point is vague in the moment, but generally leaning toward post-endgame. )

f-f-fight club

[livrer]

You win some, you lose some. I think that's how the saying goes anyway.

[ Booker pulls himself into a sitting position, at the very least, and turns to spit out blood and saliva before wiping at his mouth.

He looks a little worse for wear, that much is obvious, and unfortunately he's feeling it too. If he had his immortality, these wounds would heal in a matter of seconds and he could likely last the rest of the night in that ring, maybe win a few more rounds than he has tonight. But as it is he's probably done for tonight. He'll collect his winnings and probably hobble himself over to the nearest bar. Such is the life of Sébastien le Livre.

He tries to rise to his feet on his own, failing to catch purchase on something stable to hold onto; oof, his legs feel like jello. Yes, he probably could use a hand, but also he's a stubborn old man. ]

Lara Croft | Tomb Raider

[crofted]

AROUND THE CITY

[ You know how tourists are easily identifiable becase they're always looking around, mouth agape and eyes wide open? Well, Lara is a bit like that, although she seems to be far more interested in walking around the different buildings and temples, making quick sketches on a notebook she managed to her her hands on, a low murmur of uninterrupted train of thought about her observations about the place, the culture, the people.

Some people go crazy about the situation they find themselves into, but Lara? Lara goes full on archeology nerd. This might be the future (maybe) and this might not be the best moment to be looking at every nook at cranny of the obviously foreign structures that were haphazardly placed among the obvious suburban structures... It's just the simplest way for her to take her mind out of being stranded somewhere strange once again.

Lara is currently standing next to a Gate, twirling the pencil that fortunately came with the notebook. ]

Can't say I recognize the style. [ Lara finishes a quick yet accurate sketch of the gate. ] But I see the resemblance with other pieces. There might be more outside? Too soon to tell.

MONSTER HUNTING

[ Lara found a hunting request, and since it gave what she considers a good amount of money, she accepted.

She was quick to find the monster, and also to understand why the pay was so good; the creature was like a grizzly bear, only three times bigger and angrier.

Her hand moves quickly, shooting the third arrow into its body, but the bear, if it could be called that, barely seems to notice it. Lara rolls away moments before a giant paw takes half her face with it, scrambling to put some distance between them. The bear stands on its hind legs, arms extended as it tries to circle Lara, who is moving as well, keeping her distance. ]

So. I might not have enough arrows.

NETWORK un: lara.croft

Hello, my name is Lara. I think it should show like that, but it feels weird not to introduce myself anyway.

I have found the documents regarding the events that have transpired until recently, so you could say I'm more or less caught up to speed. It doesn't make much sense, but at least it's good to know I'm not alone.

At any rate, I had a question: Can someone tell me more about the gates? They seem to be connected to a religion of sorts, but that seems to be among the parts with less information.

Also, if anyone has mapped the surroundings of New Amsterdam, I would love to give that a look. I feel like much of my time is going to be spent outside hunting.

EYES EMOJI [around the city]

[nonscriptum]

[ Nate isn't frequently in the caves where the New Amsterdam gate is situated, but part of that can be attributed to the two jobs he's attempting to hold down just to claw some information out of this city and give him something to work with. Even in another world people have to bend the knee to capitalism.

Still, it's an easy way to get out of town for a weekend, see some sights he's missed in spite of the wide gap in time. There are still places relatively untouched by 'progress,' still villages in remote areas, and the ability to indulge in escapism leads him down the winding tunnel into the chamber with the gate, surprised to see somebody else there.

Presumably she heard the footsteps so the question must be posed to him, and barring that, one of those Conversations With Yourself that he also employs from time to time. Must be common among people who like to keep little notebooks in their possession. ]

By 'outside' you mean...'through the gate?'

Tewkesbury | Enola Holmes

[flowerpressings]

a. network (let's just pretend I've decided on a username)

Hello. Pleasure to meet you all, so to speak. You may call me Tewkesbury. Learning how to do this was very difficult, as it were, so if you come across any mistakes, you'll have to forgive me.

Truth be told, there's nothing like this back home. So thank you, to those who have helped me thus far. Now, how would I go about getting a job I wouldn't be laughed out of the room for when interviewing for it?

b. food trucks

[You could say Tewkesbury is a little bit of a picky eater. He's sitting on a bench glumly, three different dishes sitting next to him uneaten. His stomach rumbles as your character walks by with their food, and he scrambles up, gathering up his food containers.]

Wait! Wait... I'll give you all of this for what you've got!

[Tewkesbury runs in front of your character, skidding to a halt there and giving them the puppy eyes.]

c. crime (cw: violence)

[It's a bit of a walk back to the safehouse, and Tewkesbury is sure it was down this street. Or that one. Or the next one.

Hm. Maybe he's lost.

It's just then when some lads about his age start making fun of him. They start pushing him around when he starts huffing and puffing about it. It's only when Tewkesbury manages to take the leader down with him and give his jaw a crack that the fight breaks out.

His heart beats a little faster. What would Enola do? Fighting stance, of course. He readies himself, but the first gang member comes fast, knocking him in the jaw.]

d. wildcard

[Or let's plot something! Pm me!]

C. CRIME

[northerndragon]

[The streets around these parts don’t confuse Jon anymore, though he is never very happy to be in a city: it will always be a little bit of a maze to him. But on his way from hours of work to his small, now slightly-broken room, he hears a sound that’s familiar from the training yard at Winterfell and then especially the one at Castle Black: boys, young to his ears, and taunts, and what might be a scuffle.

He is not armed with anything but his strength. Still, he pauses, listens, gives his head a hard shake, and turns the corner to see what’s happening.

The boy at the center of the fight is familiar to Jon: he has just spent days in the safehouse. No fights that Jon knows of there; no reason to think he’s a troublemaker. The other boys, he’s never seen, so they must be from the city, a hard place in these recent days. One look at the way the Displaced boy squares himself up, and Jon thinks that he must not have started things, but he may also not be able to finish them. He may need help.]

What’s going on here?

[He speaks the way he would to a hall of fractious Northern Lords: like a king. Not much else seems likely to put an end to this fight before it goes any further. Even so, and even though he is a grown man who may look like a threat, that doesn’t mean he’s going to meet any success.]

richie tozier. it.

[rockshow]

NETWORK:
un: richie.tozier

on a scale of 1 to 10 how easy is it to get fucked up in this place

i'm an equal opportunist when it comes to getting fucked up, by the way. i don't discriminate against the hows and who withs

FOODTRUCKS:

Well, hey there, sweetheart.

(You would swear this guy is talking to you. He's got this deep, lumbering voice that practically purrs out of him.)

You've been bad, haven't you? I can tell. That's okay, baby.

(WOW The absolute nerve of this guy- is he serious right now? Is he really hitting on you like this?)

I'll treat you good. But probably not as good as you'll treat me. Oh, fuck, you're so hot. (Turn around and yell at this prick! Give him a piece of your mind! Only, when you get around, all you're going to see is this giant dork slamming a burrito down his gullet and moaning over how good it tastes. He's already dribbling some of the fillings down the front of his shirt and doesn't even seem to care. Welp. Maybe yell at him anyway.)

FIGHT CLUB (RINGSIDE CHAT):

C'mon! He totally thinks you're a little bitch!

(Richie was all about this. God forbid Richie ever set foot into the ring himself - he'd get his ass handed to him in a matter of seconds. But that doesn't stop him from edging on anyone in the ring. And godspeed anyone who's unlucky enough to be standing within a five-foot radius of Richie, because he's loud. It's almost impressive that this guy had such an impressive projection.)

Yeah! Break your foot off in his ass! (Richie was 100% about to draw all the wrong kind of attention and probably be thrown into the ring himself. For now though? Dude's oblivious to what a dumbass he was being.)

food trucks

[laserbeams]

Alright, I'm very flattered but let's keep this family-friendly -

[ He turns around with a nice big smile on his face. He's not surprised that someone's making lewd comments at him - he's the goddamn Homelander, everybody wants to fuck him - and he wants to make a good first impression nonetheless.

But his expression falls when he sees what Richie is actually doing. Between the way he's eating and the fillings dribbling down his shirt, Homelander has lost his appetite for burritos. And he was second in line, too. Eugh. ]

Fellate that thing any harder and it's gonna squirt salsa in your eye.

aeryn sun | farscape

[soliterraneous]

→ a. settling in

[ Aeryn has been trying to wrap her head around this. All of it. Being on this planet? Being human especially, which feels...different. Warmer, for one thing; she keeps noticing that she's sweating but none of the other effects of heat sickness, so. That's.

It's weird, is what it is.

She's in the kitchen in the safehouse, standing next to the sink, with a glass of water between her hands. When someone comes in through the door, she takes a sip before clearing her throat. ] Are you from here?

[ A beat, and then. ] Not this city, or this...time, but this planet? Erp?

Have you always been human is my question.

[ Weird ask, but. ]

→ b. network | username: aeryn.sun

I'm looking for combatants. People who are used to fighting. For sparring.

[ Short, sweet, and to the point. ]

→ c. Food trucks

[ Someone is completely nonplussed by the idea of eating bugs, and it's this brunette right here. She does ask the food truck vendors a million questions about seasonings and ingredients and savory versus sweet versus umami (in not so many words) and tries every single spice, every sauce available. ]

That one's good, [ she says over the shoulder of someone who's clearly been vacillating between trucks, pointing with a pair of chopsticks. ] If you like things that are sweet.

→ d. fight club

[ How Aeryn finds out about the underground fight club is unclear, but what is? She's wiping the floor with her competitor. She doesn't even seem concerned about it, taking the first one against her down in a few moves, and the second in five moves more than that. One more fight and she's done for the night, unwilling to push things too far in her unfamiliar and new limitations, but training has gotten her far and she'll stay around to have some water, a drink, and walk back outside alone.

She's probably gonna get jumped. ]

→ e. wildcard

[ come at me with a starter of your own! feel free to have her be anywhere; Aeryn will explore. ]

harley quinn | dceu

[mahem]

food trucks

[ apart from the obvious differences, techy and otherwise, there's kinda enough here to remind harley of those times a random block in gotham would get shut down for a street fair — only this time, it looks like the whole city's getting in on the fun.

and where there's fun, there's always good food. well. maybe.

tempted by the various smells as well as sights, she almost doesn't know where to look, something to see in every direction, which means she ends up spinning around in place a few times with an unbridled look of excitement and awe on her face, lips peeled back to reveal teeth in her beaming. a rumble from her stomach is the sign she needs to make up her mind on what to do first, and she steps into a line that's already a few people deep, idly scrutinizing the state of her own fingernails while she waits. ]

Jeez, we gotta fix this situation A-SAP, huh?

[ a passive-aggressive cough from a few parties back in line clues her into the fact that it's her turn at the front, and harley sticks her tongue out at the offender before stepping up, rising up on her tiptoes to brace her forearms against the edge of the truck and peering in. she could've used her time to figure out what she wanted from the menu, but why would she do that when she could gradually start to piss off everyone waiting in line behind her?

anyone curious about the rising volume of impatient mutters will find the source in the pale, tattooed woman who's still trying to make up her mind, either too wrapped up in her dilemma of options or pretending to ignore anyone she's pissed-off. ]

Okay, but... when you say it comes with the grasshoppers, is that, like, on the side?

fight club

[ now this is definitely more her speed.

not that she's ever really been against finding a less-than-legal way to make a living, and even when she used to pull the kind of crap that would get her tossed end over end into arkham, she'd always own it. she did everything she'd ever been in trouble for and more than that besides, and while she's not exactly looking to cozy up to anybody in particular (because being anyone's sidekick leaves a bad taste in her mouth these days), she's got enough going for her that she thinks she could be a pretty valuable asset to anyone looking to grow their membership.

she's definitely not going anywhere near the mob, though, because fuck those guys.

what she will do is sign herself up for the first fight she can, even if she visibly pouts when they tell her this one's no-weapons and she's got to surrender anything that isn't naturally on her person. either she's heading in to get her ass kicked or she actually manages to hold her own, depending on who she's been matched with — but eventually, she stumbles out of the ring with a cackle, sporting a split lip and a black eye that's already starting to show signs of impacting her vision. ]

Shit, I haven't had this much fun in a minute! [ she's definitely being loud enough for anyone to overhear her, maybe even more obvious when she stumbles into someone and instinctively sets a hand on their shoulder to steady herself, looking up at them with a bloody smile. ] Ya like the show?

wildcard

[ come at me for a different prompt or to reply to a different option from the tdm above! any questions, feel free to pm me. harley's current canon point is post-birds of prey. open to playing out fights or rolling for results! ]

fight club;

[magija]

[ wanda isn't fond of the fights here, but she's found that many other members of the displaced have reeled their way inside with raised fists, like moths to a flame, either as a way to occupy themselves in a place they have no escape from or simply out of their own personal thrill for embracing the violence.

she places no judgement on their choices, whether it's one or the other, but it does make her squirm a bit to see them stumble from the stage with their injuries, reminding her of a time in which pietro would often throw himself at anyone who so much as looked at her with an uncomfortable gaze, scrapes and bruises always inevitable for her to have to tend to afterwards.

it's why she can't help herself now, wanting to feel useful in keeping her hands busy, minor first aid supplies in hand as she awaits at the side of the stage. it's not as effective as some of the better tech they have for healing injuries, but in the midst of the violence, it's still possibly the quickest.

as the woman seems to stumble her way, expression seemingly excited about the fight that just knocked her out enough to make her bruise and bleed, wanda's unable to duck before the hand snags at her shoulder and she raises a quizzing brow. ]

Was it meant to be a performance? I hadn't realized. [ not too amused in her tone, she sighs, seemingly already tired despite not being the one throwing punches all night. ] Do you need some aid or have you already grown numb to the pain?

jo | supernatural

[damnrightreo]

SETTLING IN

[ having been raised in a bar means being more comfortable behind the bartop than in front of it. jo had only meant to grab herself some tap water from the soda gun when someone settles directly in front of her and asks for a beer. she has half a mind to pull a coyote ugly and spray them in the face but she's squatting at this bar by the grace of god — a bar god — which means she isn't willing to risk it just yet.

she sets her cup down, keeping it within reach, and leans on straight arms against the bartop. ]

Alright, shoot. What can I get you?


CRIMINAL ACTIVITY

[ hand-me-down clothes couldn't be less of a neon sign that she doesn't belong in a casino, the stubborn swagger as she sits at the table seems to outweigh her otherness. she likes poker, jo is used to be underestimated by everyone she meets so ghosting by under the radar before she takes the table for everything they've got and then some is generally her plan from the start.

she lays down a decent hand, winning the round, and one of the men at the table goes very purple in the face. "You're cheating!" ]

Y'got me. I've had the cards up my sleeve this entire time.

[ she is wearing a sleeveless top and even if she was cheating, well. she's not about to admit it, is she? ]


WILDCARD

[ choose your own adventure ]