( MEMES ) TEST DRIVE >> 7

[contagio]

THE TEST DRIVE



Like it or not, you've been dragged from your world into the sanctum. It's a pretty nice city, all things considered--sci-fi, high-tech, glamourous.... Except, of course, for the giant dome encircling it, and the threat of glitching, contaminated zombies at your door. Looks like humanity's built itself a fortress that looks suspiciously like a cage, too. Toss in the odd memory blanks and the everpresent logo of Bifrons incorporated and it's enough to make someone paranoid.

The object of this meme is to get people familiar with the world of the Sanctum, and to try to see if their characters would fit in a sci-fi utopia such as this. Here are your options:

1. Intro: Waking Up. Make your intro post, folks. You wake up in a strange place, and get a strange transmission to go with it. There's a pair of glasses connected to some sort of communications network, but otherwise not much else in the room with you. What are you going to do?

2. Pet Adoption. Maybe you have the perfect genetically engineered pet in mind. Maybe you found a stray little escapee--do you keep it or turn it in? There's a reward if you let Bifrons know where the potentially dangerous little bugger is at, after all.

3. Alterations. Feel like you need an edge in the city? Find yourself injured and looking at options? Why not consider genetic alterations or, better yet, upgrading to a better, healthier you? Be warned, some of the side effects can be a little unpleasant.

4. Network Glitches. Strange garbled messages keep trying to come through in audio and text, but no way to track where they're coming from. Do you try to make contact? Compare notes with others? Surely it's nothing to be concerned about, right?

5. Dome Glitches. What was that in the window? There, again, in the bathroom mirror! Is that another you, living another life? Or maybe you spot an ominous shadow lurking around in the corner, something like a dysthrope but...worse. You're not going crazy, are you? Others see it, too, don't they? Oh, I wouldn't touch that reflective surface if I were you, or you might end up thinking you're living in that strange other world.

6. Outside the Dome. You're out and about without an armed escort, suited up against the atmosphere and dysthropes. It's supposed to be a green sector in this run down shell of what used to be a suburb, right? Nothing could possibly go wrong

7. WILDCARD. Choose your own adventure or create a cocktail from the presented options! The choice is YOURS.

Comments

[beforeblue]

She catches hold of his shoulder, her fingers digging in enough that he wishes he was wearing his armour. She nearly topples him, but he catches himself, and she's still clinging and looking at him with the kind of venom that's usually reserved for the leaderboard.

"Seriously bitch? What the fuck are you doing?"

[petitions]

"Payback." She finally grounds herself, and slings a fist at his head. This time she's close enough and has a good hold on him, hopefully she won't miss.

" That's for shooting me in the face."

[direbunnies]

Oh.

[ She starts wringing her hands and babbling. ]

I came from Kirkwall, and I'm pretty sure this isn't it, not unless they've built a lot of new buildings. But I lived at the alienage there and I thought that was where I should go here too, at least to start. But I haven't seen any other elves either, which is why I thought they might be at the alienage and not out in the city. Though I suppose some would have to be. Where would they work if not out in the city? I just wish I knew whether or not I was the only one here. That would be very sad.

Oh, ir abelas, I'm talking too much again.

Agent South Dakota

[team_player]

4

[It's a simple glitch, but poignant. If the glasses get bumped just right, they've been recording snippets of video, and release to the network as a compilation once a full minute has been reached.

In South's case it starts usually after she drops them on a table or window sill or other hard surface; the feed cuts in with some static to show her continuing her live oblivious to her mechanical spy.

They're usually quick bits, but represent a full day for her; morning weapon field strip and cleaning. Lunch; meager, picked at without enthusiasm. Afternoon jog, drops glasses, which are picked up by a stranger who calls after her. She seems startled by the interaction. Dinner; wine and cigarettes. Rooftop. ]

7

Fight Club.

South dominates. She's back under her previous pseudonym, Badlads Brawler, and has become known for her ruthless fighting style which boasts a greater venom than her previous rounds. She's in the ring, white bandages on her hands stained with sweat and blood, ready for the next contender. Are you there to watch? Bet? Or possibly attempt to throw your fists against hers?

[faceofthe4]

[He holds up one hand and uses the other to gesture at it.] Normally there'd be a little flame thing happening for you to get the joke, so if you just pretend.. [No? Okay.] The point is, we're all suffering the same thing. Those of us that had powers? We don't anymore. My guess is it's the Surfer, but if you have some other idea, I'm all ears.

[Voice]

[alreadybetter]

Guilty until proven innocent, then.

So this really is a functioning society. Lawyers and juries and prisons, all inside a larger prison. How unusual.

[alreadybetter]

How kind of you.

And have none of those brought here ever tried to understand? Or is that a crime?

[video]

[alreadybetter]

I was allowing my responder, that would be you, to make the first move. After all. I am new here.

video;

[alreadybetter]

You're saying we will meet. In the- in my future, but in your past.

[He doesn't like the thought of a stranger knowing more about him than he remembers telling, or will tell... yes, this could get confusing.]

And was it a passing acquaintance?

[He had recognised a certain reserve in Charles initial greeting. Hopefully it was due to lack of familiarity, rather than anything else.]

[alreadybetter]

[Don't have powers? But he can feel the metal in his back, can't he? He has the intense urge to test his ability somehow, make sure it's all still there, that the glasses weren't an aberration, but he can't allow himself the luxury whilst still in conversation.]

The surfer? [He chooses to redirect.]

[canisayfuckmore]

What, and miss the fucking texts of doom? Huh, What about when the apocalypse comes? Do I want to be fucking lying in bed pound-

Uh, that's, uh, I mean.

Anyway. Whatever. You gotta keep track of this shit, is what I mean.

Fuck.

[canisayfuckmore]

[Harry gets it when the video feed he was getting flips to the reflection of Tony.]

Wait, do that aga- Holy. Fucking. Shit.

[He's actually speechless. This is not an event that happens often. Make a fucking note in your fucking calender.]

What the fuck? What the fucking fuck? Are you fucking kidding me right now?

[venenatis]

Attempts have been made, answers have not been forthcoming for Immune or Native alike. It's a shared ignorance and all the more frustrating when we who are supposed to be able to provide answers are unable to do so.

[goddamngrenades]

Aliens didn't abduct me, dude. If they had I'd have been dead sooner. THe covenant don't abduct, they kill.

[goddamngrenades]

"Yeah and he's kind of a jackass. You're lucky, you missed the few months the Director was here. Now that was some drama. Omega, Sigma, and Flowers all popped up for a bit. Connie too, and South- you at least twice before. It's sort of fucked up." That's the most honest he can be, but he offers the kid a hand and a grin.

It really is good to see him again.

"I'll take you to meet him after. Debreif with Clair too, she's still sorta in charge but we don't really have any kind of formal organiztation. North and Maine and tex joined up with the local military. I'm a cop."

[alreadybetter]

You seem to have a great number of factions here. Immune, Native, Bifrons, and what exactly sets you apart from the rest? Why should you have the answers?

video;

[tohopeagain]

Top marks.

[Knowing Erik the way he does, Charles is only all too aware of the fact that having someone aware of intimate information concerning him caused him to react defensively. So he's not going to take that route unless he has to.]

No, it's a unique relationship...friendship...kinship, whatever you prefer, but we are no simple acquaintances.

[In fact, it couldn't be more complicated.]

[whatmatters]

[So unimpressed.]

You'd rather be obsessing over the text messages than having sex?

video;

[alreadybetter]

[He is not happy to hear that, displeasure making way to denial, as it often does. Now he's doubting. Time travel? It's all a little too absurd. Interrogation technique, now that he could believe.]

A unique relationship. I suppose I can trust you then?

[And the twist to his words is perfectly obvious.]

[canisayfuckmore]

That wasn't what I. Fuck. Are you even-

How old are you? I'm not fucking, I'm not going down for corrupting a minor. We're not talking about this.

Texting. We were talking about evil creepy fucking texting.

video;

[tohopeagain]

[There was really nothing for it. He knew Erik couldn't be easily persuaded by pretty words--and just because Charles said it didn't make it so, he couldn't substantiate his claims with any physical evidence.]

I certainly consider myself more trustworthy than most.

[Though he was tempted to point that question back at Erik...civility was so difficult.]

Re: [video]

[pain_train]

Oh! Okay, so you're one of the new Immune. Hi! Sorry bad people kidnapped you. If you're hungry I know a great noodle place that's not too far from the lab.

Steve Rogers | MCU (CRAU)

[neversurrender]

Waking Up

[Steve wishes he could say that this was his first experience waking up somewhere with no memory how it had happened. The last time this had occurred he'd woken up with wings and had spent over two years stranded in a village.

It takes him no time at all to find the changes that had been made to his body. The weight of his wings are noticeably missing, instead replaced with metal...things going down his spine. He nudges at one of the ports with a frown. What are these things? The last thing he needs is another useless body modification given without his consent.

He approaches the table and gathers up the items laying out for him, frowning deeper when he realizes he hasn't been given a change of clothes. His thoughts are interrupted when the monitor begins playing its message. A virus. Most of the population wiped out. Steve is barely able to wrap his head around it all before he watches as a rabid corpse lunges at the man who had been speaking.

Bile rises in his throat as he stumbles away from the table. One word resounded in his head over and over: zombie. They had brought him here because they thought he was immune. Little did they know he had been infected once. Maybe not by this particular virus, but one like it. Without thinking, he grabs up his items and dashes out of the room. He's not sure where he should be going, but anywhere is better than be stuck in that room with the monitor.]

Bar

[A blond man is sitting hunched against the bar. Three empty shot glasses are lined up before him as he currently downs a fourth. As he motions to the bartender for another, someone might notice that he's beginning to slump even more, as if he's struggling to keep himself upright.

Help a bro out?]

Bar

[stopmjolnirtime]

[ It was not often that Thor had time to mind the bar he used to frequent in this district, less often that he was paid to do so. Usually a favor for cheap ale and a few useful scraps of information that could be gleaned by sitting and listening- so twas fortuitous indeed that he enters and sidles up to the bar in time to recognize the back of a familiar head. Listing when he should not have been able to do so- it seems the good Captain is likewise diminished.

Thor takes his ale as given and moves to the stool next to Steve's, resting a wide, warm hand on his shoulder. ]

Tis both heartening and wearying to see you here, my friend. I had hoped that no more from our realm would be brought to this place.

oh hay guiz, ok if I butt in on this reunion hella late?

[assembler]

For the past ten or so minutes, Merlin had been doing one of the things he was spectacularly good at - observing the situation and assessing his next move.

He had come into the bar first and foremost to get a scotch into him, because waking up in what appeared to be another time, if not another world, rather made him think he might deserve it. Secondly, bars and public houses were a good source of intelligence as they were in the business of selling social lubricant. Most people with a few drinks in them were inclined to be indulgent, especially if you were willing to foot the bill for another.

But Merlin hadn't quite gotten to that second step yet, because about as soon as he walked through the door, he'd seen Gary "Eggsy" Unwin swirling out of his booth and into another, embracing a figure whose face Merlin could not see at the time, but was nonetheless a familiar shape. He definitely needed the drink then.

The more time that passed while he sat at that bar, observing, the more real the situation became to him. Merlin was a man who believed in facts and evidence before he entertained speculation or his own feelings. While he certainly didn't want to believe that he'd been unceremoniously removed from what he considered to be his rightful place, there was nonetheless evidence to support that he had been, and in such a way that the probability of returning any time soon did not appear to be a promising one. In this case, however, it was much the opposite. He wanted to believe what he was seeing was the truth, and the more he watched the two men in their booth, the more gestures or the stray note of a voice rang with familiarity, and the more it appeared as if his desires might be in line with the facts.

But of course, he had to be sure. Not only that, it was imperative he make his own presence known to the one compatriot he was certain was there.

"Gentlemen," Came the dark Scottish brogue as Merlin came to stand beside the table. His arms were behind him in a military man's parade rest, holding his drink hidden in one hand. "Now this is a turn-up for the books, isn't it? May I join you?"

As if he had bumped into them both in an out of the way pub in London, rather than a bar in another universe. As if one of them wasn't dead when they left it.

But Merlin's casualness aside, there was only one direction for the eyes behind the new pair of glasses, and that was directly on the face of Harry fucking Hart.