larkers: (pic#12400540)
MEADOWLARK MODS ([personal profile] larkers) wrote in [community profile] meadowlarking2020-01-23 03:49 pm
Entry tags:

TEST DRIVE MEME 009

> TEST DRIVE MEME #009

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 found after being dropped off in a random part of the city and had 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. What comes after is relatively straightforward: you're found by others and taken back to a safehouse that is hidden under an old hover bike shop. You aren't the first group that this has happened to: 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 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.

Morningstar's veteran agents will also make their purpose clear if asked: they are a group dedicated to fighting corruption and righting the wrongs of this world, though they're in the process of rebuilding the organization's branch in New Amsterdam from scratch, and they know that the people in charge of those efforts wouldn't mind a little help. 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 ABILITIES. 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. Through a recent event, 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 had a brief cameo, after all).

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's the day when the last known AI lifeforms were completely eradicated in 2101. While some might say that it's the day that the UN claimed victory over the AI, to people the world over it's the day that humanity managed to keep themselves from being wiped out. Little will be said in detail about the holiday itself, but a remedial bit of research will cover the six-year-long Xelkoven War between humans and AI. The war itself was started when the home security unit AI Elysian killed 50 households full of people, and the war itself was 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 devised a method to put down the AI for good.

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.

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.

> 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.

THE UNITED NATIONS ARMY. In fact, it's so wild that sometimes they come up against the extremely dangerous soldiers of the UNA. These soldiers are the military arm of the United Nations government. They aren't the average soldier, however. Dressed in thick black armor that acts as an exoskeleton for their bodies, they are basically invulnerable to any and all attacks. When fighting as a unit, they work perfectly in unison, making it so that they can quickly move to deny almost any and all attacks. They're also extremely resistant to any mental or emotional compulsion or manipulation, making them hard nuts to crack. Ready for a bossfight? They're the soldiers for it.

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. 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.

> 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!

leaderboards: (𝗉𝖻; gimme a break)

agent carolina | red vs blue

[personal profile] leaderboards 2020-01-24 10:44 pm (UTC)(link)
1 | resolution day (history + vr)
[ as far as celebrations go, this one is leaving a bad taste in carolina's mouth. a strange locale, unaccounted for time, and being without her team would be bad enough, but all the anti-artificial intelligence propaganda is getting to her. she knows too much about ai - and misses her ai too much - to really buy into the story presented here. humanity fights to the death, always has and always will, sure, but she's seen too many wars to think for one minute that every ai that's ever existed here was out for blood. statistically, that just doesn't make sense. #notallai or whatever.

so someone might find her scowling openly at a booth as her neural implant - the one not for housing ai, if they even left that one where it belongs - shows off a particularly anti-ai video.

alternately, she's taking her frustrations out on vr enemies. it's the most approachable she'll ever be, hanging around between rounds and even likely to strike up a conversation with anyone who seems as comfortable in a training war as she is. ]
2 | resolution day (food trucks)
[ turns out it's not just a metaphorical bad taste in her mouth! she's used to exploratory human food in the 2500s, probably more than most of the displaced. so when she sees something that looks remarkably similar to something she hasn't managed to get her hands on in almost a decade, she has to try it. she waits in line, as patient as possible, and steps out of the way to try it when she finally has her hands on it.

except it's all wrong, sweet where it should have been salty, some bitter aftertaste to it that it should never have had, and while it's not bad, it's horrendously disappointing. the first half-friendly looking person who walks by will have the takeout container offered to them. ]


Do you want to try this? [ and then, a quick follow-up, if necessary- ] It's not poisoned or anything, I just hate it.
3 | network
un: carolina.church

This is either going to be a philosophy topic or a history one for anyone else past 2090 or so on Earth's calendar. What do you think makes these big differences in timelines - AI or alien wars, out of system colonization efforts, etc.? Do you think there's any value in worrying about a future from a timeline where humanity's history is different from what New Amsterdam records it as?
unlucky7: (STATUS :: Lineface)

2

[personal profile] unlucky7 2020-01-25 02:00 am (UTC)(link)
[Even with a steady income these days, Ginia likes to stalk the festival for free food or to see what new food trucks are in the area. As she gets into line, she pauses as someone offers her food from it. She huffs at the quick follow-up. Poison doesn't bother her and only a few things here have managed to bypass her nanotech. She's not worried.]

Sure, I'll take it.

[Ginia doesn't speak, instead signing in ASL and letting the neural implant translate for her.

She takes a bite of the food, chewing thoughtfully, expression falling a little flat.]


I get what you mean. It's an acquired tasted.
leaderboards: (𝗉𝖻; gimme a break)

[personal profile] leaderboards 2020-01-25 07:35 am (UTC)(link)
[ she can't help but feel a little vindicated at someone else not really enjoying it, either, so there's a little smirk from carolina. and a learning moment, with the translation from asl, so that's too good strikes to put her at ease already. ]

Is it mean to say I'm glad you think so? [ it's rhetoric. she doesn't care if it was actually mean or not, so there's no room for response. ] I thought I was just being picky because it reminded me of something from home.
unlucky7: (STATUS :: Thinking)

[personal profile] unlucky7 2020-01-25 04:36 pm (UTC)(link)
[Ginia gives the other woman a swift, appraising look. It's a little bit of a sizing up. Tall, strong build, carries herself well, short hair. Much of the same can be said for Ginia; taller at six feet, broad shoulders and strong arms, curly hair short. She didn't get a chance to drop by the safehouse to scope out the newest batch of arrivals, but there are ways to pick them out in a crowd.]

We're all looking for comforts of home. A natural thing to do when you're Displaced.

[She smiles and taps her sternum. A normal civilian doesn't hear the proper noun, might think of the gesture as one toward the heart.]

Though if you like burritos, there's a real good food cart with great breakfast burritos.
leaderboards: (𝗉𝖻; tired talking)

[personal profile] leaderboards 2020-01-26 04:35 am (UTC)(link)
[ that opening look is a familiar one, carolina unconsciously straightening her shoulders back a little while ginia looks her over. not that her posture is bad, by any stretch of the imagination, but she knows how first impressions go. and it's different, making first impressions out of power armour when you're used to doing everything in it. she's missing a safety net here. ]

Burritos have never been my favourite, but at this point, I don't think taking another non-native's advice would go amiss. I have a feeling your idea of a great breakfast burrito is... [ she trails off, struggling to find a word as her gaze falls on the food truck she'd just purchased disappointment from. eventually, carolina just sighs. ] You should point it out to me.
unlucky7: (STATUS :: Neutral - Serious)

[personal profile] unlucky7 2020-01-26 04:52 am (UTC)(link)
[Ginia slips the takeout box onto someone else's tray as they pass by, so smooth the person doesn't even react as they continue to walk by. She smiles slightly and gestures at a truck down a few rows.]

Honestly, I could go for one too. They go real heavy on eggs and potatoes, plenty of bug-free options too.

[Ginia doesn't mind the bugs. Can't afford to be picky, and it's not so bad when it's chopped up and hidden away.]

But the bugs aren't bad either. You get used to it.
leaderboards: (𝗉𝖻; wonder)

[personal profile] leaderboards 2020-01-26 05:53 am (UTC)(link)
Protein is protein, so long as you don't overthink it. [ or they can pretend, at least. it's not something she plans to dwell on.

carolina half turns then, head tipping toward the far truck in a let's move sort of gesture before she actually starts to head that way, attention half on her new companion. ]


It sounds as though you've been here long enough to get comfortable.

[ please tell me more without the awkward pleasantry of actually asking. she hasn't had much chance to talk with the more established displaced. ]
unlucky7: (STATUS :: Calm)

[personal profile] unlucky7 2020-01-26 06:00 am (UTC)(link)
[That's the sort of pragmatic attitude Ginia can appreciate. There's a slight smile as she moves alongside the woman. Her gait is smooth, the appearance of relaxed, but there's a defensiveness in the way she works through the crowd. Taking everything at once, ready to react.

There's a light waggle of a hand. Signing while walking is also something she's clearly used to. Signing while walking and minimizing her signs so the non-Displaced don't wonder what the hell they're talking about is also something she's clearly used to.]


Getting closer to two months now, which still means I'm new, but settling. Go ahead, ask all the questions the guide or someone else didn't answer.
leaderboards: (𝗉𝖻; pursed)

[personal profile] leaderboards 2020-01-26 09:04 am (UTC)(link)
[ carolina knows that look, the crowd scanning, the constant preparedness. she doesn't even know this woman's name, but the way she walks puts carolina at ease. if shit goes down - somehow, something, in the middle of this stupid street festival - she might actually be an ally here. ]

I wish I had real questions and not just confusion and frustration. [ she shakes her head, expression furrowing. ] There's a bigger picture that I can't see and I get that keeping us in the dark is the point, with the wetware and all, but I hate it.

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hardwearing: by <user name="beticons" site="insanejournal"> (pic#11579036)

3 - private; un: david.washington

[personal profile] hardwearing 2020-01-26 01:18 am (UTC)(link)
Carolina?

Please tell me this name isn't a coincidence and you recognize mine. But if you do, you have to get off the network. Now.
leaderboards: (𝗉𝖻; thanks i hate it)

private;

[personal profile] leaderboards 2020-01-26 04:40 am (UTC)(link)
Not until you tell me how to find you.

[ because no matter what sort of danger it might pose, if it gets her back to her teammate, the network is, at most, a necessary evil. ]
hardwearing: by <user name="beticons" site="insanejournal"> (pic#10988265)

private;

[personal profile] hardwearing 2020-01-26 08:02 am (UTC)(link)
I'll meet you at the Safehouse, but it's crowded. We should go somewhere else to talk. Maybe one of the parks.

[ They're actually kind of beautiful, and quiet, and very few of the Displaced are ever hanging around there, Wash has found. He can't believe of all of them, Carolina has been abducted too, but... he can't say part of him isn't happy to not be alone anymore, even with the danger. ]
leaderboards: ([pb] is that wrong)

private;

[personal profile] leaderboards 2020-01-26 09:13 am (UTC)(link)
Copy that.

[ just confirmation of where she'll be waiting and nothing more. where they go has zero bearing on how important it is just to see wash here. she's waiting somewhere she suspects she'll spot him easily enough when he comes into view of the safehouse and- well, if she's quick to meet him, relief all too visible on her face, she's going to write it off as a perfectly acceptable amount of concern. and that wasn't running to him, she's just always walked fast. ]
hardwearing: by <user name="ana"> (pic#12737894)

> action

[personal profile] hardwearing 2020-01-27 03:09 am (UTC)(link)
[ There she is. There's no missing the shock of red hair or that familiar form, and a second later Carolina turns and sees him and is rushing over. The sense of relief Wash feels seems misplaced, he shouldn't be grateful that anyone he knows is here. And yet part of him feels like together they can figure something out. At the least, someone will have his back. He closes the distance and gestures for her to come with him, away from the Safehouse just in case. ]

I can't believe you're here. Are you okay? Aside from the obvious...

[ This kind of conversation is safe enough, and he expects her to be frightened and furious but he doesn't know what fresh hell they put the new arrivals through this time around. They made him play along at a party, that probably sounds innocuous to anyone else but to Wash it was insult to injury. ]
leaderboards: (𝗉𝖻; wonder)

[personal profile] leaderboards 2020-01-27 05:01 am (UTC)(link)
[ wash looks relieved to see her and carolina just feels more relieved at that and even if neither of them are ever really going to let their guard down, this is probably as good as being abducted and tested on gets. she's not alone, quick steps keeping her close to him as they walk. ]

Just the obvious. [ and, so he doesn't worry about her more than he has to- ] Nothing I can't handle.
hardwearing: by <user name="beticons" site="insanejournal"> (garrett_shoots2_0017)

[personal profile] hardwearing 2020-01-31 12:04 am (UTC)(link)
[ Wash nods knowingly; Carolina's the toughest of them, something like this will only make her more determined to survive. That's not what he's worried about. ]

I'm glad they didn't hurt you.

[ He leads her quickly through the city to a large public greenhouse, which is all but empty inside. It's beautiful, all bright flowers and green leaves, growing lush and conveniently obscuring the view and sound of people in other aisles. The perfect place to talk and not be overheard.

Before he drops this bomb Wash takes a good look at her, one hand lifting slightly in an aborted movement to grip her shoulder. It gets stuffed in his pocket instead because it isn't worth the risk, and he takes a slow breath. ]


You're going to think I'm nuts, but you've figured out that this is a totally different world, right? Time and space don't really apply?

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bestaround: (pic#13747379)

history

[personal profile] bestaround 2020-01-27 05:59 am (UTC)(link)
[ She isn't the only one who ventures into the celebrations less than thrilled, for similar reasons. It's tough to be when, apparently, everyone wants your kind dead. What he used to be, anyway, as there's very much not a single robotic part in his body now, but 9S still feels very much out of place here.

It doesn't stop him from looking around, but he isn't happy about it. He ends up next to a woman watching more of what this world's history is, and he can't help but notice the deep frown on her face.

Does this mean not everyone agrees? After a hesitant few moments, 9S decides to test the waters: ]


... It's kind of a lot, huh?
leaderboards: ([pb] listening probably)

[personal profile] leaderboards 2020-01-27 08:13 am (UTC)(link)
[ quietly stewing, carolina doesn't take note of him until he speaks- and then she's quick to school her face. less scowling, more general irritation. that's a little more acceptable, until she knows who she's talking to and how much he might agree with all the anti-ai nonsense. ]

Sounds like you're feeling some culture shock, too. [ in an almost casual motion, she folds her arms across her chest, one finger tapping her sternum. it's either an idle gesture while she searches for words - a faint hum selling the feint - or a way of seeking confirmation of another displaced. ]

Things aren't... quite like this, where I'm from.
bestaround: (pic#12175900)

[personal profile] bestaround 2020-01-27 08:44 am (UTC)(link)
[ "Culture shock" is an understatement of the year, but she isn't wrong. He's only slightly less overwhelmed from their circumstances than he was a few days ago, but not by much; finally having the freedom to see the city for himself makes everything feel nearly as insane as it was once he'd regained lucidity just a days prior.

He's gotta play it cool, though, or else... well, who actually knows. He doesn't think he wants to find out.

Instead, a beat follows before he makes a single tentative nod. ]


That's one way of putting it. This is way different from what I'm used to, too.

[ More than anyone here would ever know, really. ]
leaderboards: (𝗉𝖻; goodbyes and shit)

[personal profile] leaderboards 2020-01-27 08:14 pm (UTC)(link)
[ she watches him quietly for a moment before her arms drop, posture changing a little as she jerks her head to one side, indicating away from the display. if they pick that direction and walk a few minutes, they can probably get out of the worst of the crowd, too- to get away from the worst of the people who might overhear. ]

Maybe we could both use a break from the history lessons. Let's take a walk.

[ because she's just assuming, based on his reactions so far, that it would do him good to get away from the propaganda, too. ]
bestaround: (pic#13747378)

[personal profile] bestaround 2020-01-27 09:54 pm (UTC)(link)
[ There's a moment where he pauses, as if he has to stop to consider this option, but in the end there's only one real obvious choice: he should get out of here, regardless of if this is information he should know or not. If he were anybody else, maybe he'd find this history lesson interesting; right now, he just feels as out of place as ever.

9S heaves a tired sigh, like he's exhausted from a long day out. It's barely been a couple of hours. With that, he falls into a walk beside her, an eagerness in his step that says all about how he's feeling about this. ]


Y'know what? Great idea—it's way too crowded out here, anyway.

[ As exasperated as he sounds about too many people, he still can't believe there's this many around in the first place. Cities, as he was used to them, were crumbling ghost towns, not... this, but that may be why it's kind of suffocating. ]
leaderboards: (𝗉𝖻; gimme a break)

[personal profile] leaderboards 2020-01-28 08:43 am (UTC)(link)
[ carolina walks as fast as she thinks she can get away with, glancing sidelong at her new companion to slow down if she has to. as a result, they're out of the worst of the crowd - and she's clearly done a scan of the crowd to look out for law enforcement - before she speaks again. ]

The locals sure do love their festival. [ and everything that goes along with it, apparently. when she continues, she's either venting to someone she might consider an ally or just shy of starting to pretend she's just talking nonsense. ] This isn't the way I know AI, at all, and it's pissing me off.
bestaround: (pic#11794030)

[personal profile] bestaround 2020-01-28 08:55 pm (UTC)(link)
[ It's good that she knows who to look out for, because 9S certainly doesn't. Not that he wants to be very loud anyway; that would be a recipe for disaster, no doubt. ]

Well... if what they're saying is true, maybe they have a good reason to.

[ No amount of reason makes it hurt any less, though. Sure, he just came out of a thousands-year long war against machine lifeforms hellbent on bringing humanity's demise (ha) too, but a large part of 9S wants to protest that his kind were on their side, so how could they celebrate this? Man... this "other world" business sure is a mess to think about.

At the very least, there's one human so far who doesn't seem like she'd wish for his death. Small favors, or something. ]


Er—not that I like it or anything, either. Definitely not.

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jettisons: (pic#11855270)

3! @bellamy.blake

[personal profile] jettisons 2020-01-30 02:49 am (UTC)(link)
I've got a friend or two at home that would have better answers for you.

[But she's stuck with him instead. RIP Carolina.]

It depends how close your timeline is to this one, is my guess.
leaderboards: (𝗉𝖻; pursed)

[personal profile] leaderboards 2020-01-31 09:17 am (UTC)(link)
[ at this point, she'll take less than helpful conversation. any discussion could jog a useful theory or plan, after all. ]

That would probably make sense. But 'close' can mean a lot of different things in a case like this. Close in years, close in history, close in whatever way universes are supposed to run parallel to each other.