( MEMES ) TEST DRIVE >> 8

[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. Bifrons Annual Gala. All the creme de la creme--and the Immune--are invited to the Bifrons annual gala, filled with food (real meat!) and drink (sunshine in a glass!) and expensive clothing you could want. Do you have anything to wear? Are you going to use this opportunity to schmooze, to sneak around to find some answers while everyone is distracted, or be an awkward wallflower? Or scoff at home about how everyone is so concerned with these silly events instead of cures?

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. Down with the Sickness. Something's going around. Is it a cold? The flu? Something worse? Are you immune to it, or just lucky? Are you sitting in a hospital waiting room, hoping to get seen, or just holed up in bed with the sniffles? Someone should bring you some soup and keep you company! Or complain with you.

5. Sewer Run. There's something (or somethings) lurking beneath the streets of Proles. You and other lucky people have been picked out, given a gun and a flashlight, and told good luck. What do you find down there? What finds you? Was that a cot and some discarded tablets in that alcove?

6. Outside the Dome. You're out and about without an armed escort, suited up against the atmosphere and dysthropes. Nothing could possibly go wrong...until it does. Was that a dysthrope moving...or a person?

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

Comments

[redshot]

He's not sure what surprises him more, the very planned out escape route, the sharing of that particular information, or that this man knows his name. He's not wearing a nametag, of that he had absolutely refused. So that only leaves knowing him.

And he's pretty damn sure he doesn't know anybody like this.

In a voice matching that pitch, he tilts his head forward slightly. "Who the hell are you?" And then there's a glance back at security, they've got their feet under them again. He doesn't have long for an answer, but he's lingering because he's curious, and his curiosity is a lot stronger than any concern he has for fluffy Tower security.

[saidyouweredead]

"You have a few seconds before they're onto you, and you waste those asking my name."

Amusement laces his words even if it isn't felt. The fact that this... person with his deformed hands responds to Roy Harper's name unsettles him enough. A native then? Others had mentioned to him that the same face wasn't always the same person. Another variation on FDR and Kirk? Maybe.

"Let's see if you're a good red fox or a stupid one. Run. If you're good enough, you'll find me later. If not, well, maybe you belong down here in the gutters still."

Stepping back from the young man, he gave a short whistle.

"Security! He's here! Don't let him take my wallet. Help!"

Malcolm's expression became too easily that of the offended and frightened upper-class even as his eyes were coldly calm... waiting to see what Harper would do like a scientist watching a new species of bug squirm before the pins were shoved in.

[redshot]

"Tch." It would have been faster to just give him a damn name than a speech, but standing here next to someone obviously meant to be at the gala, he might have slipped past their notice.

Until the asshole actually called attention to him. He didn't have time to analyze the escape route offer and then turning around trying to get him caught. It didn't matter right now. And he wasn't running just because the jerk told him to. It was his own idea! So he turned away and ran. Ran through the exit, jumped into the dumbwaiter and set it to the first floor. From there it was easy, shedding his waiter coat and slipping into the coat room where he snatched some man's trench coat and slipped it on before walking toward the front door.

[saidyouweredead]

Malcolm Merlyn never gave a few words when more could do and possibly confuse his enemy. When Harper fled, he touched a hand to his heart as if he were nothing more than some upper-crust weakling with his heart all aflutter at nearly being robbed by some thug. Plenty of others who thought him one of their own were there to comfort him and compliment his bravery in alerting security. He smiled and accepted their 'kindness', thanking them profusely and demurring that he had only done his duty as a citizen. These were his people in a way, and he was the wolf that walked among the sheep in another.

It was hours later when the event was winding down and Malcolm was able to make his way out. Excuses were made on why he couldn't accompany them to the afterparties in District 1. He couldn't tell any of them that he was from this place's version of the Glades, from the fourth District.

The door to his studio was shut quietly behind him, the lights left off. He listened to the flat's sounds as he laid his coat over a chair. He may or may not have company already or soon.

[redshot]

There was nothing more than a crumb of a reason to wait around in the cool weather for the man to emerge from the party, but chasing crumbs was a lifestyle he was used to. And the contradictory behavior had him curious if nothing else.

And it wasn't like there was anyone or anything waiting for him back home.

So he followed. Whether he was noticed or not, he couldn't guess. But it didn't really matter. He was almost sure he was doing exactly what the other man planned. It pissed him off, but didn't stop him. If anything, it just made him more brazen. Because a few moments later there was knock on his front door.

Sure, he could have tried to sneak in, but that seemed silly when he was expected. In all honesty, the most surprising thing of all this was that the man was in an apartment in his home district. There was absolutely nothing about him that shouted D4.