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abraxasooc2021-07-18 11:55 am
abraxasmods) wrote in abraxasooc2021-07-18 11:55 am
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TEST DRIVE MEME #2
TEST DRIVE MEME
Welcome to the second test drive meme for Abraxas! This meme is run a little bit differently than most in that you'll be asked to choose one of the two different arrival scenarios below for your character to take. If you have any questions about this mechanic or anything else related to the TDM, please take a look at the questions below or ask one of your own under the Questions header below. For general game questions please still use the FAQ.
Our previous TDM has some answers to relevant questions as well, and feel free to look at our Game History page! Anything on that page - including information about the Horizon and the Singularity - can be assumed to be told to newcomers after they arrive, whether they are prisoners or honored guests. For more information on Ambrose and the apprentice mages, please see our NPCs page.
You awaken suspended in the abyss, silent darkness stretching out in all directions. If you try to yell, you'll find that the sound doesn't carry. If you try to move, you'll find it's impossible to tell whether or not you're actually getting anywhere. If you reach for an item you were carrying last time you remember being awake, your hand will only touch bare skin.
You're naked and floating helplessly through the void, and what little air you have in your lungs is running out.
There's a pinprick of light that almost looks like a faraway star but as it grows it becomes clear that it's actually quite close. Through the opening you can see a bright room, but it's hard to make out any individual objects, as if you're looking from beneath rippling water.
A hand plunges through and you realize water is just what it is. Whether you take hold of the hand or not it will grab you and yank you up through the surface, lifting you out until you're sprawled on solid ground. Once you catch your breath, you can get a better look at the surroundings: tall trees and even taller stone pillars surround the platform you're laying on. Behind you is an ornate fountain, the base of which is so deep and so dark you might be compelled to scramble away from it lest it suck you back in to that endless abyss. Ahead of you are the walls of a large castle with several tall towers reaching up towards the sky.
If you had any powers, they feel unusually weak. Attempts to use magic or enhanced strength or powers of any sort fizzle out without any effect, but they don't feel completely gone, either.
Set into an indent on a marble slab behind the fountain is a card baring the image of one of the arcana.
An apprentice mage - the one whose hand lifted you out of the fountain - brushes the water off on their robes and runs back to join a group of three others, who all stare intently at a mage with highly decorated robes and a large, heavy book. He peers up at you for a moment and starts flipping through the book.
"I beg your pardon," he says, so absorbed in the pages of the book that he doesn't bother to look up, "I am Ambrose Rhett, the High Mage of the Kingdom of Thorne. One of my apprentices will explain everything in a moment, but please refrain from yelling and thrashing about until then. You're quite alright, and screaming gives me a hell of a headache."
Regardless of your response, he keeps flipping through the heavy tome, until he stops on one specific page, stares at it for a moment, and then exclaims:
"Aha!"
Ambrose's expression brightens, eyes twinkling with delight. He waves one of the apprentices over with a fine silk tunic, pants, and some basic sandals and with a wave of his hand they reshape to fit you perfectly.
"Oh, thank heavens," he sighs, closing the book and approaching you with a sort of worn-out relief.
Now that he's not hunching over the book, he doesn't seem quite so stuffy and inapproachable. The apprentices all seem quite relieved at his jovial outburst, and the one that handed you the tunic stops to take the tarot card down from the marble slab. If you show any curiosity about the card, they'll let you take a longer look, but won't let you touch it.
"Please, come with me, you're an honored guest here," he says, motioning for you to follow him towards the castle, "As promised, my pupils will explain your current situation. And, ah - if you had any magic of your own, or other special abilities you can't access right now, fear not, they'll return within the week. The summoning takes a lot out of you."
One of the apprentices steps forward and rattles on and on about the castle, Thorne itself, the names of a bunch of royals and nobles, and of course, your reason for being here. The Kingdom and the world itself is in great peril, and tales of your exploits have reached far and wide across universes. If asked about these exploits, the apprentice will simply smile and shrug. The High Mage was happy to see you and that's good enough.
Once inside the castle you're taken to the North Wing, which has been set up as living quarters for you and your fellow newcomers. There are four people to a room, but each generously-sized bed has opaque curtains that can be drawn around it. You can meet your roommates here and discuss your shared situation (the newcomers who were summoned back in June may have a great deal of information to tell you), or you can wander around and meet the others.
There's also a dining hall stocked with a rotating 24/7 buffet in celebration of the new honored guests. Somehow, your very favorite food is part of the rotation (or at least an attempted recreation of it given the limited technology available to the Thorneans). The town surrounding the castle is all abuzz as well, with most shops and services willing to give free samples of their wares to the new arrivals.
You may also notice that your sign is embroidered on your tunic: the same image you saw on the card from before with the name of the sign itself beneath it. If you ask the castle residents, they'll tell you a little bit about your sign (and will mostly stick to the positives, although some might point out the negatives).
Last (and, if you ask anyone else in the castle, least) there is a worn stone staircase leading underground to the dungeon. You can go there, if you wish, but all powers are restricted in the dungeons and spending too much time with the prisoners will lead to some suspicion being cast upon you. If you ask anyone why the prisoners are being held there, you'll be told that they pose a potential threat to the Kingdom (and, by extension, the entire world) and are awaiting trial.
"Drat," Ambrose says with a frown, "And here I thought we'd worked out all the kinks this time."
The High Mage looks up from his book, wide-eyed as he stumbles back. If you look behind you, you'll notice that in the time it took Ambrose to browse his book, the tarot card hanging behind you has reversed and is now hanging upside down. An apprentice runs to snatch it from the pillar and put it back with the rest of the deck.
The apprentices seem apprehensive, but Ambrose regains his composure and resists the urge to insult their newly summoned captive. Instead, he turns to the apprentices: "Get them clothed and we'll send them to await trial."
One of the apprentices drops a baggy, rough-feeling tunic, a pair of pants, and some worn sandals in your lap and glares down at you until you put them on (if you refuse, they'll tell you they can kick you back down that well if you don't want to cooperate).
Once you're fully clothed, another apprentice clamps some heavy iron shackles around your wrists and leads you on. The High Mage is far ahead of you already, muttering some long string of Thornean curses before he stands up straight and pauses, spinning to face you.
"One more thing," he says, holding one hand in the air and chanting something under his breath, "Can't have you getting too troublesome."
If you had powers, the slight connection you still had to them slips away completely and you're left with nothing as the four apprentices drag you towards the castle. Despite your prisoner status, they will answer your questions to the best of their ability.
Once you arrive at the castle you're brought to the dungeons and thrown into a locked cell. There are four people to a cell, and two sets of bunk beds with a thin and lumpy straw mattress. If you're over six feet tall, these beds are going to be awfully uncomfortable. You might as well meet your roommates. Once per day you're dragged out to an enclosed courtyard for one hour of recreation (with some crude weights, benches, and balls lying around but not much else), where you can meet the rest of the prisoners, but you can also talk to your immediate neighbors in the cells on either side and across the hallway. Just don't yell too much or the guards will snap at you to be quiet.
Everyone in the dungeon is fed one meal a day, and for a prison meal it's decent: a bit of meat, a bun, and a salad. It would seem that the Thornean chefs take too much pride in their craft to send bad food to the dungeons. The meals are all served in equal portions, though, so the smaller prisoners may be overfed and the larger ones may be getting hungry. Feel free to fight for food or share with your cellmates.
Crudely embroidered on the back of every prison tunic is the same image that was on your card and the name of the sign beneath it. A guard may explain a bit about the sign, and will be blunt and honest but not overly negative about it.
You may be blessed with a visit from one of the more welcomed newcomers, and they may sneak you some extra food or a small book to read or they may share some of the information they've gathered. The guards will even interfere if the honored guests are being overtly cruel to the prisoners from now on.
Questions
How many slots are open?
Currently, there are only four slots open for new players. We will process activity check before opening applications, so we will have a better idea of the exact count then. Existing players can apply for a second character withour restriction.
How do I choose a scenario for my character?
Pick whichever situation appeals to you most. Whether your character is honored or imprisoned has nothing to do with their personal morality, or how highly they regard themselves and their own accomplishments. Anyone can be put into either situation.
Can I try out both scenarios?
You can! But please keep in mind that only the one you eventually choose can be game canon, if you decide to keep any of your TDM threads.
What happens if my character refuses to comply with Ambrose?
Prisoners will be dragged against their will. Honored guests will be forgiven for their moment of panic or anger if they have one, and Ambrose and the apprentice mages will try to calm them and persuade them further. If they put up too much of a fight and/or start actively attacking anyone, Ambrose will warn them once that he's willing to put them back in the well where they came from (see below), and if they continue to fight he will make good on that promise.
My character intends on causing a lot of trouble (destroying parts of the castle, murdering the castle staff, etc.), what would happen to them?
Characters who make too much trouble for the mages and other staff would be thrown back in the well (which will mean drowning in the void, not returning home). Brawling with other PCs and causing minor damage is fine and will be greeted with a cranky attitude (if they are an honored guest) or a punishment like denial of food or temporary solitary confinement (if they are a prisoner), and there will be plenty of opportunity for destruction and murder later, but for now the Thorneans have no desire to keep huge liabilities around.
I want to wildcard a prompt or use one of the prompts from the original TDM that isn't on this one (eg. the library), can I do that?
Yes!
Is the power loss for the prisoners permanent?
No, although honored guests will regain their powers first due to the lack of interference from Ambrose, the prisoners will be able to regain theirs soon enough as well.
Can the prisoners talk about anything private, or will they be overheard at all times?
There are guards patrolling the dungeon, but they aren't always within earshot. Most of the attention is being focused on the new guests, so the prisoners will have some opportunities for privacy.
The first prisoners in June were just thrown in their cells without being told they are awaiting trial. Will they be told differently now that the new prisoners are here?
Yes, all prisoners new and old will be told that the Court has shown mercy on them and they will be given a fair trial sometime in August to determine their fate.
Whether or not that's actually true - and whether they believe it, even if it is - is another story, but they will all be informed.
Can my character leave the castle?
Honored guests can leave the castle itself, but cannot leave the surrounding town.
Can my character eventually side against Thorne if I choose to make them an honored guest/can they side with Thorne if I choose to imprison them?
For this TDM, it will be easier for welcomed characters to side with Thorne and for imprisoned characters to side with one of the other two factions, so we encourage you to take a look at the factions and see where you might want your character to go.
However, that is not set in stone and if you change your mind, characters in Scenario 1 will be able to betray Thorne, and characters in Scenario 2 can work themselves into Thorne's good graces.
How much will my choice of scenario affect my character's plot later on?
This choice will affect characters throughout August, but our August event will wrap up the honored guests vs. prisoners plotline, so your character won't be imprisoned for too long. This decision - and every other major decision you make in game! - will also be used to flavor some mod surprises that will be coming down the line.
Don't get too anxious about this choice, though; this is just one choice you'll get to make in a game that has a lot of them, and every character in both scenarios can work their way towards many, many individual goals and outcomes. You're not locking yourself out of anything in the future via the choice you made on the TDM. It will primarily impact the immediate future with the far-reaching effects being up to each player.
Are TDM threads mandatory for my application?
No, you may use other samples, but we encourage you to post to the TDM and get a feel for this game and its mechanics before you join. If you do not have a TDM thread you will still need to choose one of the two scenarios on your application.
What if I haven't settled on a sign yet?
You can ignore sign-related prompts if you're undecided (or try out different signs in different threads).
Our previous TDM has some answers to relevant questions as well, and feel free to look at our Game History page! Anything on that page - including information about the Horizon and the Singularity - can be assumed to be told to newcomers after they arrive, whether they are prisoners or honored guests. For more information on Ambrose and the apprentice mages, please see our NPCs page.
Arrival
You awaken suspended in the abyss, silent darkness stretching out in all directions. If you try to yell, you'll find that the sound doesn't carry. If you try to move, you'll find it's impossible to tell whether or not you're actually getting anywhere. If you reach for an item you were carrying last time you remember being awake, your hand will only touch bare skin.
You're naked and floating helplessly through the void, and what little air you have in your lungs is running out.
There's a pinprick of light that almost looks like a faraway star but as it grows it becomes clear that it's actually quite close. Through the opening you can see a bright room, but it's hard to make out any individual objects, as if you're looking from beneath rippling water.
A hand plunges through and you realize water is just what it is. Whether you take hold of the hand or not it will grab you and yank you up through the surface, lifting you out until you're sprawled on solid ground. Once you catch your breath, you can get a better look at the surroundings: tall trees and even taller stone pillars surround the platform you're laying on. Behind you is an ornate fountain, the base of which is so deep and so dark you might be compelled to scramble away from it lest it suck you back in to that endless abyss. Ahead of you are the walls of a large castle with several tall towers reaching up towards the sky.
If you had any powers, they feel unusually weak. Attempts to use magic or enhanced strength or powers of any sort fizzle out without any effect, but they don't feel completely gone, either.
Set into an indent on a marble slab behind the fountain is a card baring the image of one of the arcana.
An apprentice mage - the one whose hand lifted you out of the fountain - brushes the water off on their robes and runs back to join a group of three others, who all stare intently at a mage with highly decorated robes and a large, heavy book. He peers up at you for a moment and starts flipping through the book.
"I beg your pardon," he says, so absorbed in the pages of the book that he doesn't bother to look up, "I am Ambrose Rhett, the High Mage of the Kingdom of Thorne. One of my apprentices will explain everything in a moment, but please refrain from yelling and thrashing about until then. You're quite alright, and screaming gives me a hell of a headache."
Regardless of your response, he keeps flipping through the heavy tome, until he stops on one specific page, stares at it for a moment, and then exclaims:
"Aha!"
Scenario One: Welcome to Thorne
Ambrose's expression brightens, eyes twinkling with delight. He waves one of the apprentices over with a fine silk tunic, pants, and some basic sandals and with a wave of his hand they reshape to fit you perfectly.
"Oh, thank heavens," he sighs, closing the book and approaching you with a sort of worn-out relief.
Now that he's not hunching over the book, he doesn't seem quite so stuffy and inapproachable. The apprentices all seem quite relieved at his jovial outburst, and the one that handed you the tunic stops to take the tarot card down from the marble slab. If you show any curiosity about the card, they'll let you take a longer look, but won't let you touch it.
"Please, come with me, you're an honored guest here," he says, motioning for you to follow him towards the castle, "As promised, my pupils will explain your current situation. And, ah - if you had any magic of your own, or other special abilities you can't access right now, fear not, they'll return within the week. The summoning takes a lot out of you."
One of the apprentices steps forward and rattles on and on about the castle, Thorne itself, the names of a bunch of royals and nobles, and of course, your reason for being here. The Kingdom and the world itself is in great peril, and tales of your exploits have reached far and wide across universes. If asked about these exploits, the apprentice will simply smile and shrug. The High Mage was happy to see you and that's good enough.
Once inside the castle you're taken to the North Wing, which has been set up as living quarters for you and your fellow newcomers. There are four people to a room, but each generously-sized bed has opaque curtains that can be drawn around it. You can meet your roommates here and discuss your shared situation (the newcomers who were summoned back in June may have a great deal of information to tell you), or you can wander around and meet the others.
There's also a dining hall stocked with a rotating 24/7 buffet in celebration of the new honored guests. Somehow, your very favorite food is part of the rotation (or at least an attempted recreation of it given the limited technology available to the Thorneans). The town surrounding the castle is all abuzz as well, with most shops and services willing to give free samples of their wares to the new arrivals.
You may also notice that your sign is embroidered on your tunic: the same image you saw on the card from before with the name of the sign itself beneath it. If you ask the castle residents, they'll tell you a little bit about your sign (and will mostly stick to the positives, although some might point out the negatives).
Last (and, if you ask anyone else in the castle, least) there is a worn stone staircase leading underground to the dungeon. You can go there, if you wish, but all powers are restricted in the dungeons and spending too much time with the prisoners will lead to some suspicion being cast upon you. If you ask anyone why the prisoners are being held there, you'll be told that they pose a potential threat to the Kingdom (and, by extension, the entire world) and are awaiting trial.
Scenario Two: Imprisoned
"Drat," Ambrose says with a frown, "And here I thought we'd worked out all the kinks this time."
The High Mage looks up from his book, wide-eyed as he stumbles back. If you look behind you, you'll notice that in the time it took Ambrose to browse his book, the tarot card hanging behind you has reversed and is now hanging upside down. An apprentice runs to snatch it from the pillar and put it back with the rest of the deck.
The apprentices seem apprehensive, but Ambrose regains his composure and resists the urge to insult their newly summoned captive. Instead, he turns to the apprentices: "Get them clothed and we'll send them to await trial."
One of the apprentices drops a baggy, rough-feeling tunic, a pair of pants, and some worn sandals in your lap and glares down at you until you put them on (if you refuse, they'll tell you they can kick you back down that well if you don't want to cooperate).
Once you're fully clothed, another apprentice clamps some heavy iron shackles around your wrists and leads you on. The High Mage is far ahead of you already, muttering some long string of Thornean curses before he stands up straight and pauses, spinning to face you.
"One more thing," he says, holding one hand in the air and chanting something under his breath, "Can't have you getting too troublesome."
If you had powers, the slight connection you still had to them slips away completely and you're left with nothing as the four apprentices drag you towards the castle. Despite your prisoner status, they will answer your questions to the best of their ability.
Once you arrive at the castle you're brought to the dungeons and thrown into a locked cell. There are four people to a cell, and two sets of bunk beds with a thin and lumpy straw mattress. If you're over six feet tall, these beds are going to be awfully uncomfortable. You might as well meet your roommates. Once per day you're dragged out to an enclosed courtyard for one hour of recreation (with some crude weights, benches, and balls lying around but not much else), where you can meet the rest of the prisoners, but you can also talk to your immediate neighbors in the cells on either side and across the hallway. Just don't yell too much or the guards will snap at you to be quiet.
Everyone in the dungeon is fed one meal a day, and for a prison meal it's decent: a bit of meat, a bun, and a salad. It would seem that the Thornean chefs take too much pride in their craft to send bad food to the dungeons. The meals are all served in equal portions, though, so the smaller prisoners may be overfed and the larger ones may be getting hungry. Feel free to fight for food or share with your cellmates.
Crudely embroidered on the back of every prison tunic is the same image that was on your card and the name of the sign beneath it. A guard may explain a bit about the sign, and will be blunt and honest but not overly negative about it.
You may be blessed with a visit from one of the more welcomed newcomers, and they may sneak you some extra food or a small book to read or they may share some of the information they've gathered. The guards will even interfere if the honored guests are being overtly cruel to the prisoners from now on.
How many slots are open?
Currently, there are only four slots open for new players. We will process activity check before opening applications, so we will have a better idea of the exact count then. Existing players can apply for a second character withour restriction.
How do I choose a scenario for my character?
Pick whichever situation appeals to you most. Whether your character is honored or imprisoned has nothing to do with their personal morality, or how highly they regard themselves and their own accomplishments. Anyone can be put into either situation.
Can I try out both scenarios?
You can! But please keep in mind that only the one you eventually choose can be game canon, if you decide to keep any of your TDM threads.
What happens if my character refuses to comply with Ambrose?
Prisoners will be dragged against their will. Honored guests will be forgiven for their moment of panic or anger if they have one, and Ambrose and the apprentice mages will try to calm them and persuade them further. If they put up too much of a fight and/or start actively attacking anyone, Ambrose will warn them once that he's willing to put them back in the well where they came from (see below), and if they continue to fight he will make good on that promise.
My character intends on causing a lot of trouble (destroying parts of the castle, murdering the castle staff, etc.), what would happen to them?
Characters who make too much trouble for the mages and other staff would be thrown back in the well (which will mean drowning in the void, not returning home). Brawling with other PCs and causing minor damage is fine and will be greeted with a cranky attitude (if they are an honored guest) or a punishment like denial of food or temporary solitary confinement (if they are a prisoner), and there will be plenty of opportunity for destruction and murder later, but for now the Thorneans have no desire to keep huge liabilities around.
I want to wildcard a prompt or use one of the prompts from the original TDM that isn't on this one (eg. the library), can I do that?
Yes!
Is the power loss for the prisoners permanent?
No, although honored guests will regain their powers first due to the lack of interference from Ambrose, the prisoners will be able to regain theirs soon enough as well.
Can the prisoners talk about anything private, or will they be overheard at all times?
There are guards patrolling the dungeon, but they aren't always within earshot. Most of the attention is being focused on the new guests, so the prisoners will have some opportunities for privacy.
The first prisoners in June were just thrown in their cells without being told they are awaiting trial. Will they be told differently now that the new prisoners are here?
Yes, all prisoners new and old will be told that the Court has shown mercy on them and they will be given a fair trial sometime in August to determine their fate.
Whether or not that's actually true - and whether they believe it, even if it is - is another story, but they will all be informed.
Can my character leave the castle?
Honored guests can leave the castle itself, but cannot leave the surrounding town.
Can my character eventually side against Thorne if I choose to make them an honored guest/can they side with Thorne if I choose to imprison them?
For this TDM, it will be easier for welcomed characters to side with Thorne and for imprisoned characters to side with one of the other two factions, so we encourage you to take a look at the factions and see where you might want your character to go.
However, that is not set in stone and if you change your mind, characters in Scenario 1 will be able to betray Thorne, and characters in Scenario 2 can work themselves into Thorne's good graces.
How much will my choice of scenario affect my character's plot later on?
This choice will affect characters throughout August, but our August event will wrap up the honored guests vs. prisoners plotline, so your character won't be imprisoned for too long. This decision - and every other major decision you make in game! - will also be used to flavor some mod surprises that will be coming down the line.
Don't get too anxious about this choice, though; this is just one choice you'll get to make in a game that has a lot of them, and every character in both scenarios can work their way towards many, many individual goals and outcomes. You're not locking yourself out of anything in the future via the choice you made on the TDM. It will primarily impact the immediate future with the far-reaching effects being up to each player.
Are TDM threads mandatory for my application?
No, you may use other samples, but we encourage you to post to the TDM and get a feel for this game and its mechanics before you join. If you do not have a TDM thread you will still need to choose one of the two scenarios on your application.
What if I haven't settled on a sign yet?
You can ignore sign-related prompts if you're undecided (or try out different signs in different threads).
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no subject
Yeah, well, you know. When your hosts provide you with so much — [ and he takes a moment to smooth out his fine silk tunic, letting his fingers linger on the material; give a pointed look at the bag she's wearing — ] it'd be rude not to show your appreciation, wouldn't it?
[ The pink hair, the glitter; it's in stark contrast to what she's been given to wear for a prison uniform. These are just light barbs. And either way, he's the one with freedom here; he can walk away whenever he wants.
Doesn't want to, though. He looks down at her extended hand, takes it with his own. A simple handshake. ]
Brad Bakshi.
[ Apparently he's going to use prison for networking no matter what world he's in. Fits with the whole opportunist thing, at least. He withdraws his hand, folds his arms over his chest. Still smiling at her, though who's to say whether it's condescending or sincere. Maybe a bit of both. ]
You come up with any plans to get out of here, then? Or is that just a work in progress at the moment?
no subject
[ After all, does it really seem beyond their hosts? They're bringing people to their world, bringing people back to life, and then throwing them in prison for no reason. What better way to keep the rest of them compliant than by drugging the food?
Not that it's really a worry she has. It's mostly just a negative thing to say in a syrupy sweet voice of faux concern. ]
Oh, I got friends upstairs. From home. One of 'em already told me that they apparently already let out some prisoners from the first batch after others vouched, so I'm just playin' the waiting game. And we got an ace up our sleeves anyway.
[ She has not yet learned that her ace has been effectively neutered, powers-wise. She doesn't question his plans, so she just assumes that he has a reason to want to continue being imprisoned. ]
Where're you from?
no subject
Sure. But then again, who are they more likely to be fucking with? Could be all of us, but some of us actually get to go outside.
[ This is fun, really. She's fun. Probably could have guessed that just by looking at her, but he didn't know she'd match up with his brand of entertainment. ]
Friends and an ace up your sleeve, huh? That's a lot of options. You'll be out of here in no time.
[ Only a little condescending; pay no mind to the fact that he doesn't know anyone here, that he doesn't know what he'd do if he was the one behind bars. Neither point is relevant. ]
L.A. [ Seems like a decent bet that they're from similar worlds, if not the same one, so he can just name the city outright. If not, then he gets to be mysterious. Win-win. ] You?
no subject
[ She doesn't know that for sure, but she knows about prisoners and treatin' 'em like shit. Just because you're not in the death pit doesn't mean you're free to fuck around.
She beams at him, with just a tiny glint of sharpness in her eyes. She likes him. If things were different, she'd be whisking him away to party. ]
From what they tell me, it's better than most people who wind up here get. Plenty of folks with no one at all in their corner. Must be tough.
[ While she doesn't actually know that he's alone, she's guessing that he didn't walk into this world with the closest thing he has to family waiting for him, ready to bail him out. ]
Vegas.
no subject
[ Dorkiness
that he's kind of intoaside, it's not like there was anything going on back home he couldn't just up and leave. He's not thrilled about being ripped away, but there isn't a whole lot of downside to the experience, either. Works for him. Might even be a blessing in disguise.Yeah, they might've pegged him with the opportunist thing after all. He meets her expression. Shame she's locked up; maybe he is kind of rooting for her to get out after all. ]
Depends on if you're the kind of person who needs someone in their corner.
[ Who would he even have at this stage? Jo, but she's still gotta break her whole addiction to power thing. David, but it's not like that actually counts for anything. Nah. A completely fresh start really does suit him just fine.
And Vegas, huh? He probably could've guessed that, except for the accent. ]
Been there once or twice. You from there originally, or just a transplant?
no subject
[ Rolling her shoulder, the sharpness in her eyes is suddenly replaced with a hint of sadness. Not the kind designed for sympathy, but true sadness that comes from experiencing unfathomable loneliness. She wouldn't wish it on even her worst enemy. Death is a greater kindness. ] Everyone needs someone. You don't wanna be left all alone. Trust me. My world ain't exactly the same as yours.
[ That sadness disappears as quickly as it flashed across her face, and she shakes her head. ]
I only got there a couple of months before they brought me here. I'm originally from Pratt, Kansas. It's a little shithole nothing town. Or was, anyway.
no subject
At her question, he cocks his head, frowns in thought. ] Dunno. Haven't decided yet. Who knows if the world actually needs saving, anyway, or if it's just a cover story for something else. Even without all of the medieval crap, this place seems pretty intent on returning to the good old days.
[ Which obviously isn't always ideal, but he doesn't know enough about the history here to make a proper judgment call. At the same time, it doesn't really matter: he'll go wherever the most opportunity for power is. Somewhere that has the technology — magic, whatever — to bring people across dimensions is the early frontrunner there, but who knows what it's like in the court. If he can destabilize things there, work his way into greater positions of influence. It'd be a good start, at least.
But oh, no. She suddenly sounds sincere now. His options there aren't great: trade the playful barbs for a meaningful attack, which
is going to make him into the bad guy in a way he'd rather not bedoesn't fit with the flow of their conversation at all; or show sympathy and, with that, weakness. It's a relief when it leaves her and things go back to normal. Silence is neutral.He simply raises his eyebrows instead, choosing to go for a genuine question. ]
Was? You come from the apocalypse or something?
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[ It's a wonder that she didn't think to call his hands soft, in a derisive way. She does come from small town rural America, where farmers are more common than white collar workers.
The way her eyebrows knit is hard to describe. It's not the sincerity from a second ago, but it's also not the friendly ribbing -- this is a woman who has been through some shit, and fairly recently. ]
Yeah, some people call it that. Most of us call it Captain Trips. The superflu. More'n 99% of humanity's dead where I come from.
possible cw for brief rl pandemic mention; at least mq's pandemic content was quality
[ Just a bit of friendly advice. And thanks for noticing he doesn't do manual labour — he left farm life behind as soon as he could. Though it might end up being different here, where the technology level ends up leaving a lot to be desired. Unless magic is a solve for that. Which, unfortunately, he's fully intent on learning.
He uncrosses his arms, lets them fall by his sides as he looks at her with new eyes. The pink hair, the glitter remnants, sure; that's a pretty good way of disguising the fact that you apparently come from an actual hellscape. Also, that on another Earth there was a disease that nearly completely ravaged its way through humanity. That's unsettling.
He takes a moment to get used to that. Let it wash over him. ]
That's not great. [ He says it simply; it's not like there are words for something like that. He's been through something similar, just nowhere near as extreme. So that definitely means it's also no longer the time to be a total ass. There's no mockery for someone who lived through something like that. ] Did people just flock to Vegas, then? Was it strategic or something?
[ Kinda hard to see setting up camp in the desert as a good idea, but not like he was there. ]
julie gently imagines a world where you do zoom team building instead of assassinations
[ Julie might not be a genius, and she might be a whole-hearted believer in her cult, but she knows how it all sounds. There's a magical man sending dreams to all the survivors to come join him? There's an old witch doing the same thing, and the two of them are at war? If anyone had told her this two years ago, she'd have laughed them out of the room. But she's seen things now that can't be explained away. ]
Vegas makes sense, really. Think about how much food and drinks the hotels had stocked up, and the power grid is real strong to keep up with it all. Plenty of empty beds close together. Anythin' you need to keep society goin', Vegas has got it.
well when you put it like THAT...
You're right, that does sound wild. But being here is wild, too. [ A shrug. ] Unless this is all an impressively complex mass hallucination, sure. I can buy going to Vegas during a stressful time because of a dream.
[ It probably wouldn't even be the first time it's happened, although the whole nearly-all-of-humanity-is-dead angle puts a different spin on it. ]
Power grid's still going, huh? That's lucky. You don't normally hear about that in apocalypse stories, but I've never lived through one of those. [ Respect to Julie. ] I guess it's at least enough to let everyone get back on their feet while figuring out the long term.
[ A stop gap, if you will. Brad glances down the hallway, a look over their surroundings. Still a shit hole down here, but also, as far as he knows, no world-upending disease outbreaks. So he's genuinely curious when he asks, ] Prison aside, since you've got options for getting out of here and all. What's better, Vegas or here?
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Right? Only the boring, goody-goody assholes went to Boulder. We had a buncha real smart people wind up with us, engineers and people with experience to run the dam. That's the reason the power kept up so good. Most places lost all their power and water service, but Las Vegas was still working. Even the food in the freezers was still good when people startin' arriving.
[ She snorts and smiles, rolling her eyes for a moment as if the question is entertainingly simple. ] Vegas, by a long shot. It was like bein' on top of the world.
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Sounds like Vegas was the place to be. [ He knows he's only getting one side of the story; he also doesn't really care. Whatever went on in Boulder is irrelevant. Facts are, her reasoning is sound, she's fun, and she's clearly got some ambition. All three are important. ] I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss this place, though. Probably plenty of chances to end up on top of the world here, too.
[ You know. Especially since they're apparently both opportunists, and all. And he likes her; isn't going to be inclined to dismiss her, jailbird status or no. ]
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Her grin shows teeth, and she holds the bars between them at waist level, nails clinking softly against the iron. She wonders if she'll get out before she needs her manicure redone. Surely this magic bullshit is capable of a gel fill. ]
Oh, I know it. When I get out, you'll come with me and my people, we'll figure out how to make this Medieval Times nonsense into some real fun. And you should definitely meet Mr. Flagg.
[ None of what she said is phrased like it's optional. She's used to just adding people to the entourage. ]
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Except it's not as though there are a ton of options here. He's perfectly content to be on his own, but that's not a long-term strategy. And feels like they've got an understanding, or at least as good as one can get in less than ideal circumstances — i.e., being in a world neither of you know — in a short period of time.
So, unless something better comes along, he might just take her up on it anyway. Why not? ]
Mr. Flagg one of your friends from upstairs? [ Except Brad hasn't heard of anyone going by that name, so. He's got a different suspicion there. ] Or that ace you've got up your sleeve?
[ Now that, he'd really be interested in. See what that's all about. ]
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[ She takes a second to think about that. Yeah, if anywhere else has fighting pits, it's probably this place. But her point stands. The library doesn't have someone willing to sell their blood for drugs, Brad. And if he wants to take a break for some loser nerd talk, there's always Nadine. ]
Mr. Flagg is down here. But he ain't like anyone else you've ever met.
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It's all about balance. Can't be all fighting pits all the time.
[ That said, let it be known he's very much interested in whatever the fighting pit equivalent here is. There's a whole world out there; there's gotta be something.
The way she talks about her Mr. Flagg, though. Huh. That's something. Julie has clearly lived through some shit; she shouldn't be underestimated, as bizarre as some of what she's said has seemed. The reverence with which she speaks of this guy, though; that's something different. ]
Tell me about him.
[ An invitation, and a real one, at that. Still, he's prepared to keep a healthy dose of skepticism in mind. Nobody is ever all that. ]
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[ It's a joke, but not by much. The upper echelon of the new society is insanely hedonistic. Most of Julie's time is leisure time. She occasionally gets asked to do favors like find people in the city or suss out a piece of information, but otherwise it's sex and drugs and fighting pits. ]
Flagg's the one who's gonna rebuild the world. He does magic, the real kind. Flies and reads minds and appears out of nowhere, that kinda shit. He sent the dreams. You don't know what the world's like, where I'm from. The people who are left, they need a leader like him.
[ There's no way that Brad can possibly understand the need for a good, strong leader during a global crisis!!! ]
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From her description, though, this Flagg guy seems too good to be true. Brad doesn't blame her. Julie's been through a lot, and coping mechanisms are what they are. At the same time, he can't dismiss it entirely — magic is apparently a thing here, so maybe he does know it — but elevating one guy into a godlike figure... doesn't really work out, from what he's seen, speaking of global crises and all.
He keeps his tone light. ]
Don't doubt it. [ Well, he doubts the rebuild the world part. He doubts that very much. Kind of insane, that that's the thing that sounds the most implausible. ] Magic's apparently a thing here too, though. The real kind. So he might have some competition here.
[ He cocks his head, a glint in his eyes. Although... ]
I get it. People want to flock to a strong presence. Someone they think will keep them safe, look out for them, take care of them. Make all of their decisions for them. It's better to be on the winning side of that, isn't it?
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Julie does not seem rattled by his seeds of doubt. She is aware that it sounds crazy, and she also cannot accurately describe the power of Randall Flagg. It's the kind of thing you have to feel, which is why she suggests meeting him; a man who summons his followers by dream, who located his second-in-command by premonition alone, who can invade the consciousness of anyone within a hundred miles is not a man easily conveyed in words.
When they meet, he will understand. ]
It's not the same. Their magic upstairs, it seems more like... you know those movies about that wizard boy and the magic school? Like that. It's not the same at all. [ She did not watch them observantly enough to remember Legilimency.
Julie scoffs. ]
Well, isn't that the point of life? To win? If you spend all your time losin' at everything you try, you're fuckin' worthless. But Flagg, he changes everything. My life with him was.. is better than it ever was before he came along. I have power now.
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[ No skepticism in his words, just in tone. She's right, it is a tough sell. That's the kind of magic you'd have to feel to believe. At the very least, Brad's interested in this Flagg guy; less so for Julie's claims, and more to meet the man who can gain such a devoted follower. Call it a professional curiosity.
He smiles at her. ]
Well, not now-now, you don't, but I know what you mean. [ And they see eye to eye when it comes to life, that's good. ] You've got me convinced. Guess I'll have to find him down here. See what he can do.
[ Make an ally or suss out the competition. Really, either outcome's fine by him. He'd have to do it at some point anyway; doesn't hurt to be pointed in a relevant direction. ]
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Her friends are criminals and murderers. They can handle springing each other from jail.
Her composure returned, she nods encouragingly, supportively. ]
An' upstairs, there's other people who can tell you more, Lloyd Henreid and Nadine Cross. They've known Flagg longer than anyone else. Anyway, if nothin' else, we're pretty good company.
[ She realizes that she never specifically asked. ] You have anyone here?
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Just for the moment, though. Then it's right back to business. ]
I do not, no.
[ Having that many friends here — friends on the outside, at that — is probably one way to earn the level of confidence Julie has, despite her being down here. That makes a little more sense. Hopefully they're as fun as she is, though that would beg the question as to why they're free and she's locked up, so his hopes aren't up. At the same time, place like this, gonna have to find people at some point. Getting a little kickstart certainly doesn't hurt.
He shrugs, his nonchalance real. ]
I don't exactly need anyone, is the thing. Definitely not from back home. Truth be told, I was just looking to make a fresh start. This wasn't exactly what I had in mind, but I can make it work.
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She cocks her head like an interested puppy, all big sympathetic eyes. She gets wanting a fresh start. Sometimes it's easier for the whole world to disappear than it is to try and claw away at the edges of the life you had. ]
So what kinda fresh start did you have in mind? Not this renn faire bullshit, but back where you're from. What were you gonna do?
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See, that's the funny thing. [ He leans a shoulder against the wall at the cell bars' edge, making himself comfortable while he gives their surroundings a cursory glance. Back to Julie. ] I was gonna get myself locked up. Nothing like here, of course, but our standards back home are a little higher. [ Especially for white collar crime, but that's neither here nor there now. ] Take a little vacation, add to my street cred, go from there. Like I said, this wasn't what I had in mind, but it might work out even better.
[ Nothing wrong with being honest. The entire point was to bolster his reputation; now he gets to do that here, but with a truly blank slate. Be everything he wants to be. He's kinda looking forward to it. ]
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