neosapienooc | 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ at least in a world of hard-light constructs, neon, and holograms, Mirys can get away with more under the guise of "aesthetics". Yang finds it hard to make excuses for catching things on fire with a snap of her fingers. ]

...huh! [ she jerks her hand back and the joints shift everything back into their proper place instantly, like a puppet's strings drawn taut. ] I didn't think about the distance.

[ Yang stares at her hand a moment, flexing the fingers, then makes a universal thinking gesture with her fingers against her chin. ] A rope would just burn up. Chain would be too heavy. Plus, where would I put it...?

A thinner chain wouldn't have the whole weight problem going on, but then there's the question of if it'd end up breaking from the strain, or if it'd melt when it gets too hot. We'd probably wanna see what kinds of materials would or wouldn't work for that.

Fuck if I'd know where to put it, though. [Wouldn't want it on the outside since that would make it risky since it could get snagged on something or grabbed by someone or whatever. But, maybe...] Maybe figure out some way to keep it inside? Might have to reorganize some of the internals to make room, but it's an idea, at least.

[And then there'd be the need to work out some way to retract the rope, or chain, or whatever it ultimately ends up being, in order to bring the fist back. However they each look at this, there's going to be some challenge or another, and that's if Yang decides to actually go and make the thing.]

[ oh this was getting into some good, serious analysis. Yang actually picks up her stylus again and scribbles some notations down in the corner of the screen. ] If it's too hollow it won't pack a punch. Literally.

[ might as well be shooting a tin can at someone at that point. though there's an idea. Yang selects the entire design save for the rough sketch of a human figure it's attached to and just... scales the whole thing up about 20%. ] What if I just made it... bigger.

[Mirys considers drawing an illusion of the up-scaled rocket fist over Yang's existing arm to see what it might look like when it's actually made, but no, that would probably be a little too noticeable by any other people nearby, so she doesn't.]

It'd mean some extra weight, but that could make the necessary space if the parts inside don't need to be scaled up too. [It could possibly mean more punch, if it doesn't remain around the same amount of punch as is currently intended; the extra weight could offset any reduction in effectiveness that could come from there being some empty space inside.]

How much punch are you aiming for, anyway?

[ Yang shines a cheesy grin. ] Maximum punch. [ look, she knows what she's about.

she also realizes there's another pitfall here. a blind spot in her plans. Yang threads her fingers up into her bangs and sighs. ] Oh man, aiming this thing is going to be a pain!

[At the answer to her question, Mirys makes a face, though it's mostly at herself.] Maximum punch. Of course you are, why'd I even bother asking. [Hey, she's picked up on some things over the past months.

When the next potential issue is brought up, she looks at the tablet again.]

The added weight from making it bigger would probably just take some getting used to. Possible deviations in flight path due to recoil making the rest of your arm move when launching it, though? That's what I'd look at next, I think, maybe some way to hold it mostly-still. Or just brace it with your other hand.

Yeah... [ Yang leans back in her chair and just sort of stares on toward the ceiling. she can see a lot of physics projections and math in the near future. she makes a face. that's, like, the least favorite part of all this. she can do it, it's just boring.

screw that.

her attention is back on the sketch, and she shrugs. ] Welp! Guess the best way to test that out is to just build it and see what happens.

[Well, how else are they going to actually know what sort of adjustments really need to be made?]

I'm down for that. When do you wanna get started? [They've already been bouncing some ideas back and forth here, she might as well see this whole thing through. Though, with it being likely that Yang would be working on the actual build herself, Mirys's contribution would probably end up being additional observations and feedback, and maybe drawing some bulls-eyes on a wall somewhere.]

[ and now Yang has to get serious as she isn't the best at planning more than a couple of days in advance if it's not something in her work schedule. ] Hm. Probably this weekend? I'll have to make a couple of calls. I mean I can hammer away at the basics here and there, but actually testing it will need more time and an open enough space...

[ Yang is less inclined to take just anyone down to Last Ward for leisurely activities, but if it's daytime, and her other friends are available to help keep an eye out, it wouldn't be too bad. ] Not sure how much fun it'll be just hanging out in the garage with me.

[Shrug.] It's not like I have much else to do most of the time. On Saturday I'm not gonna be able to go until at least 11:30, but Sunday's pretty much completely open.

[The weekend means she won't have any classes that she needs to attend—she is just barely sixteen now—but on Saturday morning, the NSO will send someone to check up on her, as has been the norm for the past year. Mirys had been quite insistent on being allowed her own space, but concerns about her being a minor had led to the organization's own insisting on periodically making sure she was still doing fine.]

[ Yang experienced some of that when she moved into her own space, but she had shown herself to be responsible in short order. all that time spend taking care of other kids her age or younger out in the country helped make her dependable. she isn't too surprised that someone showing a lot of the hallmarks of a shut-in like Mirys is under closer observation. ]

Hm? I'm sure if you tell them who you're hanging out with they'll be cool with it. Point out that it's a learning experience. [ she smiles slyly. ] It's technically true...!

[ Yang isn't one to circumvent the rules often. especially not when they're obviously just there for health and safety. but. kids need to feel like they have some freedom and autonomy, too. especially the ones thrust into situations where they'll end up growing faster than expected. ]

I could shoot Aya a message sometime later and let her know.

[There were some regulars when it came to those weekly visits, but since Mirys didn't usually know which of those people to expect on any single day, it would be easiest to just let her know—and have her relay the message to whoever—instead of having to send something to everyone that it could possibly be.]

After you do, I'll drop her a line too. We'll work something out. [ Yang nods, confident. if it's Aya there's bound to be some leeway. ]

If I get something hammered together fast enough maybe we'll even have time to go test it out. Oh! [ something occurs to her suddenly. ] We'll have to order something to eat, so you don't have to deal with my poor cooking.

[ no guest should be made to eat anything Yang makes for herself, nor resort to instant meals. ]

TEST DRIVE MEME #1

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