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neosapienooc2019-12-30 12:51 am
neosapienmods) wrote in neosapienooc2019-12-30 12:51 am
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.2: A MIND OF DARKNESS, A HEART OF LIGHT
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.
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.4: A NEW HOPE GLISTENS OFF THE STREETS
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.
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.5: WITHIN THE CHAOS, I KNOW I'M NOT ALONE
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.
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.
shakes head solemnly
Maybe getting something stronger than green tea, that's for sure.
[Does he need that to actually fall for John's disguise or to have it in him to humor it? Yes.]
yes. you are a true friend kuji
[Nodding his head John couldn't help but twirl exuberantly at the mustache. Truthfully he wasn't sure what Kuji really meant. Did he want green tea? Did he want something stronger than green tea? Did he want John to get it for him?
Because truthfully he's willing to try.]
I don't know young man. Don't you think you're a little too young to be drinking anything with too much caffeine in it?
no subject
It's a figure of speech. [Tooi pauses deliberately to sip at his tea.] Coffee isn't a weird, magic adult juice. It's just a drink. Chill out.
no subject
Wow.
Excuse you, obviously John has quite a bit to learn in regards to the refined tastes of adult beverages. But he will catch onto your fancy alternative lingo eventually... Maybe... In a few years.]
Now now young lad, don't know what your parents allow but if you were my sonnyboy I can assure you that I would most certainly be quite upset to see that you'd be drinking such things at your age. Kids like you should be enjoying things like juice boxes and chocolate milk and... [he can't help but subconsciously shudder a little as he says the next part without as much resolve] Cake.
[Projecting his own fathers judgements? Naahhh. It was at this moment that the barista, who didn't seem too keen to say what he was being payed to say next, blandly muttered out the drink.]
Red eye! I have a large Red Eye for -- [Sigh.] ...Mr. Zoo Smell...
[A small smirk came to Johns face as he couldn't help but ball his fist and mutter out a small "yes!" to his own small success]
no subject
[Seriously? Really? He can't look that young. Tooi takes another deliberate tea pause. To his credit, he doesn't gag or spit any of his drink out at the silly name John has ordered his coffee as.]
Guess it's none of my business. [Specifically, John making a fool of himself.]
no subject
You know what? Maybe I will get you something. It's on me. What do you want kiddo-roonie?
[Definitely look that young. You can't be much different in age from him, so he's more than happy to keep laying on the nicknames.]
no subject
But. I mean. Free thing? Free thing. Are you sure you want to do this, John? It's very tempting to order the most expensive, stupidly complicated drink that Tooi would never buy for himself just to fuck with this other kid...
...Eh, no, he's not that mean.]
If you insist...iced coffee. Black.
no subject
That's all? Don't even want a shot or anything in there?
[He says, taking a moment to lift his fake mustache off his lip in order to sip at his own drink. It was almost immediately that he would wince and shudder to the bitter taste.
Blugh!!!
But hey at least it was serving it's purpose?]
Alright then my boy, lets go get you that drink. Maybe it'll put come hair on that lip!
no subject
[It's up to John, honestly - he's resisted the temptation of being a total ass, and he's going to stick with that conviction. Perhaps even show John how to properly drink something bitter.]
...I don't think coffee does that.
no subject
All right then! It's decided! Today is your starting point in true adulthood!
[He says, obviously not able to drink the stuff much himself and not knowing Tooi's habit of drinking such bitter things for a while now. But hey! Getting something for this guy will distract him over the fact that he's barely sipped at his own drink.
And so he goes waddling off to the register, using all of his mustache-clad manly gusto to once more order another red-eye... This time iced. Only to pull out his own card and pay for it before walking back over to Tooi.]
There you go kiddo. Now, all we have to do is wait.
[He says with the most satisfied of smirks.]
no subject
He waits, still nursing his tea by the time John returns, and the thought occurs to him that someone who goofily dresses up as an "adult" and asks the barista to call out a goofy name might have put the free drink he'd just scored under some other goofy name.
Ah.
Is he going to be played in a few minutes, is that what's going to happen.]
1/2
How could you have not seen one of the most obvious tricks in the book unfold before your very eyes?
John stands there. His front teeth eagerly biting at his lip, doing his best to hold back the series of building chuckles forming in the pit of his chest. His eyes earing ever so slightly as he seems to be glancing over at you from the corner of his eye.]
2/2
Sourpants McFartface. A large black eye for Sourpants McFartface.
[At this point John couldn't hold back. His smirk turned into a large grin as he reaches out to pat Tooi on the back firmly while going back to his 'distinguished' older gentleman voice.]
Well well my boy! Heh. Seems your drink is ready! Hehehe.