neosapienooc | TEST DRIVE MEME #1

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TEST DRIVE MEME #1

JANUARY TEST DRIVE

1: SPRAWLING WASTELAND, GLOWING IN THE DARK

No sunlight reaches the Underground, but there is rain: grey, oily droplets that slowly trickle down from the city above, seeping through layers of concrete until they drip from broken light fixtures onto the aptly named black markets below. The glow of neon signs keeps the shadows at bay, just barely. What was once a system of utility tunnels and basement bunkers is now a warren of tiny shops offering reprogrammed ID chips and back-alley cybernetic upgrades, where hitmen and slave traders operate with lawless impunity. But someone is always watching... the eyes of Yakashbah, graffitied in bioluminescent paint, stare unblinking from the walls.

People come to this place for only two reasons: they're either looking for something, or they're trying not to be found. Whatever your reason, the Underground welcomes you.

2: A MIND OF DARKNESS, A HEART OF LIGHT

Outside of manicured parks and glass-enclosed vertical farms, green space is rare in New Gate City, so the elites flaunt their wealth in private rooftop gardens. Fragrant, exotic flowers bloom amidst strings of lanterns, and real grass - an extravagant luxury - carpets the ground beneath partygoers' feet as they sip champagne and admire the dark cityscape below. Tonight, one of the Douman Zaibatsu's myriad charity organizations hosts its annual fundraising gala... but this year, the special guests attract even more attention than the celebrities and fashionistas in attendance. Representatives from the Neo Sapien Organization have been invited to speak on the topic of Human/Meta-human relations, and to raise money on behalf of job placement programs for impoverished Metas in the Last Ward. Of course, most within the Douman Zaibatsu would prefer that these "job placement programs" send Metas to the farms far outside New Gate City (or better yet, to the lunar strip mines), but at least for tonight, members of both factions hide behind false smiles and false words.

3: AS FEAR'S REPLICATING, YOUR WORDS RESONATING

Someone gasps, and everyone looks up. Arcadia's central shopping district goes silent, save for the distant sound of pop tunes played over tinny speakers, as a massive black banner unfurls down the side of a building. A crudely drawn eye fills the banner, bisected by a line of white paint... the unofficial symbol of the Meta rights movement. People start to whisper, and somewhere, there's a cheer. Police drones buzz through the air above.

Meta rights protests aren't uncommon in this part of New Gate City, even though they're soon dispersed by local security forces. This banner, too, will be quickly taken down and destroyed, but the photos and videos of the event will be harder to suppress. Already, the bystanders are murmuring to each other, some in support and some in fear. Others keep their heads down, wary of expressing their true feelings about the rising numbers of Meta-humans. And as security forces move to block off the area, others are frantically trying to disappear.

4: A NEW HOPE GLISTENS OFF THE STREETS

The blocks surrounding the Neo Sapien Organization's headquarters in the Middle Ward are like an oasis at the center of an otherwise inhospitable city. Old buildings have been renovated into bright and cheerful apartments that accommodate a variety of Meta-human physiologies, Meta schools and Meta-owned businesses are flourishing, and Meta-friendly shops and cafes line the streets.

The best coffee in the Middle Ward can be found at The Mean Bean, just across from the NSO building, where the shop's fire-breathing Meta owner personally roasts every batch. NSO employees and and other patrons of the popular cafe congregate to discuss local news and gossip: a proposed Meta registration and identification law, rumors of vigilante gangs near the border with the Last Ward, and rivalries between NSO university sports teams. Arguments occasionally grow heated (especially when it comes to sports), but overall the atmosphere is friendly and congenial.

5: WITHIN THE CHAOS, I KNOW I'M NOT ALONE

The Last Ward's electrical grid is reliably unreliable, but blackouts on this scale are rare. Half the ward has been dark for the past three days, save for a few emergency generators and dwindling battery backups. As winter winds batter old, drafty concrete apartment blocks, the residents grow restless and frustrated. Police have already put down several riots, but there's no stopping the spike in looting and other petty crimes.

In the Parish, many people have opted to barricade themselves inside their homes until the blackout ends, but others are taking advantage of the chaos. Most, though, have chosen to band together to protect each other throughout the long nights. The people of the Parish may not have much, but at least they have a sense of community.

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[ Yang bites her lip. door number 3, huh. excellent. not at all planned but then again Yang's never been known for keeping the cleanest of apartments. surely they'll be too busy to rib her for it.

when she's done with the button she grins and pulls her hands away. ] Just keeping them safe for the ride.

[ you know. saying stuff like that as if there's not still an opening for Levi to second-guess their decision.

Yang takes a step back. ] If you'll excuse me, I've got a seat to warm up.

[ and, well, she'll need to go and tell someone that she's leaving or else they're going to wonder what the heck happened. it's not unfair to just say she's feeling that she's done her part here. no more interviews, no more empty smiles and vapid promises and insincere handshakes.

she also has some champagne to burn off so there's zero risk of an accident. Yang's reckless sometimes, sure, but not on something like this. even if the bike does mostly drive itself she always insists on being fully aware in case of having to react to the unexpected. ]

Them.

[Levi scoffs, like it's the worst thing Yang's called what she's attending to, and lets her get that time off to... burn away the alcohol, to get the seat warmed up, to deal with. whatever it is she has to deal with. Levi themself elects to stay out here for a bit, and when Yang's back is turned, there's a sharp sizzling pop and a wafting scent of ozone heading out into the atmosphere. if they were more inside, they probably would've put a light out.]

[in those ten minutes, Leviathan has said their goodbyes to the other representatives from the NSO, they've politely and demurely made it known to the hosts that they would be taking their leave—some story about how their body is having some problems and they need to get home and rest, but that they were very thrilled to be part of this experience and they look forward to further positive relationships being built between Central Ward and the NSO.]

[their glasses are clouded over again, and they have a smart jacket on over their tux as they wait outside. they doubt they'll be waiting for very long for Yang to come pick them up and take them the hell out of here. right now they just want... they just want out. they want to be back, they're realizing, to a place where life makes sense to them. and that's at least one Ward away from all of this.]

[ Yang didn't time it perfectly, but just about at the ten minute mark she pulls up on her sleek orange-and-black motorcycle with its dull synthesized internal combustion noises pumping out through its internal speakers. the real thing might be untenable these days but there's just something about the sound that really sells what having a motorcycle was all about.

she had the time in the elevator to pull most of her hair back into a loose braid. it would help keep it out of Levi's face once they're on, and also highlight that freshly trimmed undercut of hers. she smiles as she scoops off her own helmet and hands it over with her right hand, the left palm splayed out against the smooth leather of the back half of the seat. warming it up just as promised. ]

Your chariot has arrived.

[ugh, the undercut. it's like Yang is trying to convince Levi to make bad choices. (hasn't she already succeeded?) they slide up behind her on the bike without saying much, just because they can't think of anything to say that's appropriately smooth, and slide their arms around Yang's waist. and they try their absolute hardest not to think about how much they love the warmth of another body, of one other body, and how they're going to get to keep this memory no matter what else happens tonight. (unless they don't ha ha ha.)]

Take me away, fair maiden. [they. sound like a tool. and they laugh and bury their head against the back of Yang's shoulder.] Ignore me. I just want to be... anywhere but here right now.

[ at first, Yang never liked that style for herself. it was more that she needed doctors to go in and tweak shit with her implants so often it was just easier than letting it grow out awkwardly and then shave back just when it was starting to look normal. this was the one exception to the long-standing tradition of her mom being the only person allowed to cut her hair, ever.

but hey. then people started to give compliments on it, so yeah, she loves the attention it gets now. it wasn't particularly unique in terms of style around here but it had a tendency to surprise people because when her hair was down all the way it was almost impossible to notice. likewise, Yang was keenly aware of every bit of body heat seeping in through the layers in the otherwise chill night air.

"ignore me", they said. as if that was an option. with that warmth. that laugh. that comfortable weight against her back. ]

You got it, L. [ there's a moment while Yang reaches down past the console and pulls up the two halves of reinforced and padded plastic that fasten together to form the spare helmet. she slips that on over her head, slips her fingers around the handlebars, and kicks off the curb to get them on their way. she's going to obey the limits but luckily traffic is light at this late hour so they can zip off across the city in relative peace. ]

[it takes until they're a fair distance away from the Central Ward, away from the life Levi was removed from and hasn't told more than a handful of people about voluntarily, that their grip relaxes. they still don't want to pull away, even if they're trying to be as safe as possible and sticking close to Yang as a matter of fact rather than anything else. but they feel like they can stop holding their breath, and there's an electrified sigh coming from their lungs as they breathe out for longer than they were breathing in. and so they don't have to talk too loud, they straighten their back and move their head much closer to Yang's ear.]

Thanks. For getting me out of there. [their fingers shift a little on Yang's stomach, and they know what's under those clothes and they're so mad at themself for falling for it again and again and again and again.] It's a bad scene up in the CW. Too many people think they know me.

There's a guy there I'm pretty sure was planted to stir the pot. Hope it doesn't work but... on the other hand? Kinda hope someone decks him. On camera. [ out here, effectively alone, Yang doesn't have to hold back on her opinions or her volume as she did at the party. there was no more need for diplomacy. they've never been anything short of candid with one another; or so Yang felt, anyway. ]

Those people can't see us. Can't see past the tips of their own damn noses. [ Yang can't do much in terms of reassurance except speak it. at a traffic light she slips a hand off the grip, pulls it against her stomach to press to Levi's hand, and then just as quick as it could leave that impression of heat behind it's gone again and they're moving. ]

Don't let it get under your skin.

[it gets a laugh out of Levi. it'll take a lot more than that to really get under their skin, they think. and the press of Yang's hand sends the best kind of warmth into Levi's chest, and they want more of that right now and they're glad that they can, effectively, cuddle up behind her without being seen as weird or wrong or. overstepping.]

[come on, Levi. that's the line you're worried about crossing? dumbass.]

I never do. Just takes a while to get out of the mindset. [maybe they should actually tell Yang. or maybe they can leave it alone for now.] I'm surprised both of us kept it together enough to not punch that dude. But that's probably want they want, you know? Show the world that freaks like us can't be trusted... [they sigh and slide up a little more firmly against Yang. it doesn't matter. they're out of there. they'll be safe soon.]

Hey, maybe if we're lucky, Zeke will trip over himself and accidentally headbutt him in the face. [ the smirk's pretty clear in her tone. Yang doesn't think the stars will align conveniently enough to let that happen, but it's fun to imagine.

not as fun as imagining what the two of them here, now, will get up to in a couple of minutes as they close in on Yang's street. ] I don't think getting your mind off things will be a problem.

[ Yang has full confidence in that. if nothing else went right or went anywhere tonight, or if Levi had second thoughts, one way or another they were not going to spend the night mulling over the vast and seemingly insurmountable gulf between Us and Them. the the only space that mattered was that between the two passengers on this bike, and the distance between them and the garage doors. ]

[ugh ugh ugh ugh why is she like this why does she always know the right thing to say to get a smile on Levi's face and their thoughts moving to something better. ugh. she's bad. she's good but she's bad.]

[they recognize the neighborhood and they resolve to get over their conflicted feelings as soon as they draw close enough for it to not be... weird. too weird. they exhale and they feel crackling at their lips.]

I want to kiss you so bad right now. [there it is. saying outright what everything else has only implied. not the first time they've admitted it and not the last. but. they have to get back home safe. and even the distance they're at now seems too far. from distractions, from peace, from each other.] That's the only thing I want on my mind.

[ Yang should have been prepared to hear something like that, but she wasn't. she didn't think they'd quite flirted it up that hard at the party or since, or that Levi was so eager to start, or that she herself had made it so enticing an opportunity. she's sure of herself, obviously, but... it's all about the time and the place, right?

now it was down to the distance and the pace which wasn't nearly satisfactory enough.

this is where having a full on car would have been convenient. with the self-driving mode they wouldn't even have to have waited this long. alas, there's only one thing she can do at this point. Yang brushed her thumb over the control override, deciding on the second stroke to hit it and assume full manual control of their ride. the bike wobbles faintly as she begins to steer it on her own and even opens up the throttle some. the synthesized engine noise ramps up appropriately. she doesn't want to waste a second out here if she can help it.

the garage is in sight, now. the proximity sensors bid the large steel doors to slide open fully with a creak before she's even turning off the road. there's all manner of her tools and parts and assorted tech gadgetry strewn about the floor and along the walls and shelves. tools just barely tucked away safely, or hanging from the ceiling. there's the large mechanical arm with its two circular indentations made for the bike's tires; it's made to stow the motorcycle up against the wall out of the way, or lift it up for service.

there are clamps that press against the wheels as soon as Yang has slowed them to a stop. it supports the bike upright solidly. the doors creak shut immediately while Yang swiftly unlatches her helm and jams the sections back into the holder built into the dash. she's not able to do much else but wait for Levi to let go of her, or dismount, or... whatever they wanted to do at this point. that helm's got to go no matter what, and then they can decide if they wanna do this here and now — as Yang certainly has a mind to — or wait to make it upstairs to the equally disheveled apartment. ]

[technology rules. they've lived their whole life like this so it shouldn't be as impressive but sometimes it still is. as soon as everything clicks into place and they're safe and under a roof and there isn't a massive danger to either of them—not from the road, anyway—then... then. then then then.]

[their breath sparks and their eyes shut just after they get to their feet. one hand goes over their chest; they're in less danger than they thought right now, there's a different kind of tension inside them, their heart is going fast but not wildly fast, and. and this is going to happen. gods. they. is it? no, it is. it is, Levi, calm down, you decided this, you wanted this to...]

Don't think any less of me for it.

[it's not smooth (they aren't smooth); it's almost distressingly genuine. but they don't want to be judged and that's still on their mind and they just want reassurance. whether it's words or fingertips or lips, they're standing there with their head tilted looking at Yang carefully and worrying their own bottom lip.]

[ there's uncertainty in the look on Yang's face. she's not too sure on where Levi's got it in their head that judgement was going to be an issue tonight. not about something like this. yeah, they had their disagreements, but one's opinions and outlook on life had to be pretty bad to have Yang questioning their motives. this, tonight? this ain't about any of that. it's about having a good time.

no, scratch that. it's about enjoying the time they're given to the fullest.

so, Yang interprets the statement to mean Levi's thought better about wanting to kiss her right then and there. which is... well, Yang can't say it's not disappointing, but it's fair. it's their right.

disregarding Levi's feelings was never on the table. Yang slips off the bike and stands before them. close, but not too close, hopefully. she stops herself from reaching up to brush at those lips, wanting to ease some of the anxiety in that action with a touch if she could. her eyes flick downward, briefly, but stay on Levi's eyes. even if the glasses had been in the way she'd know where to find them. the movement is automatic. magnetic.

Yang's been chastised for giving mixed signals before. turns out you can't say "we don't have to keep going" when you've got your hand down someone's pants can be more than a bit confusing. she was younger, then, and has learned since to be more careful with the intent of her actions but, gods, sometimes she just wants to touch and be touched and when given the chance to get lost in the familiar she'll toss away her map and disregard the warning signs without giving it a single thought.

but she does give it more than one thought this time. ]

I'd never. [ they are both probably overthinking this. Yang steps back out of proximity until she can clutch the metal pipe that serves as the railing for the stairs. ] But we can just chill, if you'd rather...

[ she offers up a smirk. cool. casual. tries to squeeze all the implications and intimacy out of her statement. ] Whatever happens though, I'm getting out of these clothes.

[ Yang begins her ascent without waiting for an answer. she doesn't want to stare Levi down, put any more pressure on them than they might already be wrestling with. ]

[damn it damn it damn it why does she have to care. why does she always have to care. why is she a mature person and Levi is like this, freaking out just at the idea of kissing someone else even though they know it'll feel good, it'll be a huge relief, it'll be like. it'll be. a way to relax after tonight and they need that so badly and why is Yang like this.]

[Levi's hand closes into a fist but only to get their fingernails digging against their skin to give them something else to focus on. they want boundaries and Yang is establishing them and letting them know that it's okay to stop if they want. this is what they want. this is what they've wanted from Yang for a while. they need to adjust their mental image of her if this is the kind of thing she's going to be doing for them from now on. or at least for tonight.]

[they exhale sharply and follow Yang up the stairs a few steps behind.]

Sorry. I like your plan. I need to get out of this stuff and into something more comfortable myself, so... we'll handle that first. [making these lists helps bring them back down to earth. breaking it down into manageable chunks.] Then we'll see what happens next. Okay.

[they don't have any of their own clothes here. maybe they'll steal one of Yang's shirts or something. either way, the mutter that follows it sounds fairly casual, a separate thought though it may be.] You've already seen everything anyway.

[ would that Yang was still young and fresh and wrestling with control, the soft exhale that followed those barely-there words (emphasis on "bare") would have shown her spitting embers. though her body feels all the hotter now that she's unable to let that mental image go. it is all the clearer an image for being one born of memory and not pure imagination. ]

Ahh. [ oh, right. words. words would be good. they're in the center of space now, which is really just an open approximation of a living room, with the kitchen area and its fold-out table on the one side, the media console and couch flanking opposite walls with the glass coffee table in the center, and then doors to the bedroom and bathrooms on the last remaining wall. it's just exactly the same as it's always been. spacious enough to be claustrophobic, but well lived-in so that there was not far to reach before touching on something that held some kind of value to Yang. tools, sure. digital picture frames, trophies of the non-standard variety, tools, various odds and ends.

anyone unfamiliar would just take in the sight and the smell - takeout and oil, engine smoke and "I burned the toast again this morning" smoke all mingling together with coffee notes - and think Yang Xiao Long was a fucking mess. they're not entirely wrong. but she has a system for everything; people just don't get it. most people anyway.

she's already pulling the tie loose from around her neck and working on the vest's buttons as she crosses the space to the bedroom in the dim neon lights filtering in between the blinds above the couch. she pulls her shoes off without untying them and kicks them aside where all her other boots and sneakers reside in a pile. sighs because it feels good to have her feet out of those cramped things and on soft carpet. ]

Mmn. You're welcome to borrow anything you need.

[Levi isn't necessarily one of those people, but they've grown to understand that people live different lives, and, well. there are parts of Yang that they know they won't ever get. this is one of them. and it's fine that way, because usually they aren't coming over to Yang's place to talk about the decor.]

[following Yang quietly, they step out of their shoes and leave them in roughly the same place. they're working on their jacket, then their tux jacket, and after not nearly long enough they're down to their tux shirt and unbuttoning it. and they make it most of the way down before they uncloud their glasses and look up from their chest towards Yang with a grin that's on the verge of bursting into a laugh. sometimes all they need is a stupid reminder of the stupid stuff the two of them say at each other.]

I kept them safe.

[they leave their shirt where it is, mostly unbuttoned, and peel off the cummerbund, then undo their belt. the clothes are kind of just going on the floor at their feet. it's not elegant or polite, but they doubt they're going to be doing much that counts as either of those tonight.]

Do you still have that one way too big t-shirt? [the one that smells like Yang.] I'm calling dibs on that so I don't have to think about how good a look it is on you.

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TEST DRIVE MEME #1

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