Test Drive Meme: The Overflow, Part Deux!

[arielmods]

CITY OF ARIEL: THE TEST DRIVE THE OVERFLOW, PART DEUX! Since the last post is again fast approaching 3k comments and getting laggy for some of our players, we have decided to go ahead and stick up the overflow post, even though there's just a little over a week to game start. Please continue your threads or start new ones here if you'd like. To make this easier on those continuing threads from the last meme, here's a handy form: <small>(<a href="THREAD URL HERE">Continued from here.</a>) between <user name="CHARACTER 1"> & <user name="CHARACTER 2"></small> Response here! Please remember to let your thread partners know you've bumped your threads over here as well! We started the meme early to give you plenty of room to do just that. ◆◆◆◆ With the City of Ariel grand opening only a month away, we are holding our first ever test drive meme. Tag in and see how your character would settle in the game. You're a fresh face in the city, newly processed, and arriving at a bustling time. The city is expanding and you are greeted first in the re-education center by your helpful counselors and then directed out of the building to a large festival. Be puzzled, make friends, have sex, or whatever you want! There are no restrictions on thread types played out here. Your first awareness that something has gone wrong comes during a groggy moment of semi-lucidity when you look around yourself and find that -- instead of wherever you remember being last -- you're in a chair, in a room with a man you don't recognize. He's sitting behind a desk whistling to himself and sorting paperwork. The whole atmosphere might remind you of a high school guidance counselor's office, only with far more comfortable chairs. When your head clears enough to speak and you ask him where you are, he smiles brightly and says, "Welcome to the City of Ariel." You were brought to Ariel during a very special time! There's a large festival going on celebrating the new expansions to the city and everything is decked out for it. Everything is bustling and vibrant in the city today because of the celebrations. There are decorations up, food vendors set up all along the streets, kissing booths, games, and just about anything else you can imagine an event like this would have! The people of Ariel are out and about as well, some are in vibrant costumes and others are just checking out the sights. Some of the more exhibitionist types are even having a little more fun out in public than you may be used to seeing back home. As soon as the grogginess from your arrival passes, you are allowed to leave the re-education center and see it all for yourself. Upon exiting, you are even handed beads of various colors, several of each so you don't worry about running out. Each color has a special meaning listed below: pink - toys blue - oral yellow - watersports green - age play lavender - crossdressing orange - multiples grey - bondage white - hands (mutual masturbation, fingering, handjob) red - blood black - wildcard These are to aid you in making a connection with others. Show your interest in others and tell them exactly what you would like to do with them by sharing the beads. If you would rather take a different approach, feel free to walk around the festival and see what (or who) catches your eye. The point is to relax and get settled in your new home.
TAG IN - Post your character's name, canon, and preferences. - Set up an opener in your comment or leave it blank. - Tag around and have fun!	USEFUL LINKS: [Premise] [Rules] [F.A.Q.] [Locations] [Local Citizens (NPC)] [Taken] [Wanted] [Reserves] [Application] [Main] [Logs] [OOC]

Please note that all CR in this meme can be carried over when the game starts between characters that are accepted into the game.

Threads can also count towards third and first person samples on the application, just provide links.

Take a look at our OOC Meet and Greet post! Meet. Greet. Make friends. Have fun!

Comments

[notbocceball]

Ba'al has been sitting on the couch in the interim. He had been working on some small device in an effort to get it to function again then conceals it once Barton is out of the bathroom. The question is just strange enough that it gets a small laugh out of him. "I am sure something can be arranged, depending on what it will entail," he replies.

[halfassed]

Everyone gets their secrets. He's not going to ask about the device.

"I'm not doing a good job making choices." He's compromised. "But I can't -- let my guard down. It's hard line to walk between those two."

[notbocceball]

Ba'al's eyes narrow as he tries to reason out what he's asking. "You want some one to make your decisions? But you... do not trust anyone?" he ventures.

[halfassed]

"I don't want to give up any power," he says. "It's just control." He wants to be able to say no, and get up, and go. That's what Loki took from him, and that's the only thing that he really values about himself. "You seem..." He waves a hand, vaguely. "You remind me of a guy I know."

Coulson. Coulson is what he means.

He breathes out. "I'm not doing a good job with this," he says. "I can get out of your way."

[notbocceball]

He watches he closely for a time, still trying to reason out what he's attempting to ask. A small chuckle at reminding him of someone. His hand idly taps the arm of the couch as he thinks. "A safeword," he concludes. "A way to cease an encounter? Agreement by omission. Control stripped by your consent."

He considers that a moment then adds, "It is not an unfamiliar concept. I have not engaged in that sort of activity in quite some time." Discounting his numerous slaves, of course. "We would have agree upon your limits in advance and other specifics."

[halfassed]

"But you have before." That means he wasn't completely off-base in his guess. Whoever this guy is, he might want a soldier in his pocket, someone with the obvious physical prowess and training that Clint has. And Clint wants someone with the control he's seeing.

It works. It's a trade.

He takes a seat where he can see the door, see the windows, where there's no easy way for Ba'al to trap him in. That's not a conscious choice; it's reflex.

"Like what?"

[notbocceball]

He inclines his head and folds his hands thoughtfully. "What limits you have. What should never be done and what should be done," he explains.

"More precisely, what you know you need."

[halfassed]

"Just don't tie me up." He has to be more specific; yeah, he knows. "No blindfolds or anything either." He depends on his eyes too much.

As for the second question --

He shakes his head. "I've been asking for things I didn't know I needed all day," he says. "I'm compromised." He doesn't know what's going on in his head.

[notbocceball]

"Compromised," Ba'al repeats. He considers the word in this context. He already mentioned his mind being altered. "What caused you to become compromised? It is not just being here."

[halfassed]

"Does it matter?" Whether it was torture or mind control or coercion. He was compromised.

[notbocceball]

He gives a dismissive shrug. "Not terribly, unless you wish it addressed."

"I have certain rules that should be followed or I will break the encounter," he says. "I will not be touched in a sexual context without my expressed permission. In turn, I will not touch you in such a manner unless you request it. At any point, if you feel you cannot control your actions, tell me. Questions relating to your physical state must be answered."

[halfassed]

"I can do rules."

He can also not do rules, when he thinks they're restrictive, or stupid, or he just plain wants to be a pain in the ass. None of those apply right now. He'd rather ease into this, all things concerned.

He breathes out. This sounds about right. He can do this. "Anything else?" Anything else, to him, means he's got it, he understands.

[notbocceball]

"Those rules are unlikely to change. Other rules and orders will be conditional," Ba'al says simply.

"Only if you have any specific requests. What you already know you need would be helpful. Then, of course, is the question of when you wish to start and what your safeword will be."

[halfassed]

"I need some rest," he says. "And probably some refueling." Food, he means. "Beyond that, I don't know."

[notbocceball]

"Hm. Perhaps that is best discussed later," Ba'al suggests. He considers him a moment before speaking again, "You may rest here if you like." This is a calculated gesture, he wants to reinforce that being in his presence means safety.

"I have little in the way of food to offer, however, I imagine restoring your fluids is far more inoperative."

[halfassed]

"Probably." Electrolytes, or something. A breath, then, "I don't think I'll be able to sleep. No offense."

[notbocceball]

"None taken," Ba'al says with an incline of his head. "Do as you like. I have nowhere I am needed for some time."

[halfassed]

"Did they give you a job?" They gave Clint one. Construction, or something, he thinks.

He's delaying. Asking questions that probably won't be answered truthfully and maybe don't have any bearing on what Clint wants. Which is someone to tell him drink some water, kneel here and stay quiet, or draw the string back and hold it there, there, at the perfect point of tension as long as you can. Something that's not his decision.

[notbocceball]

"Of course," Ba'al responds then his eyes narrow. This need of his is certainly more serious if he can't act on small needs on his own. He had thought they would start later but since he's stalling. "Get up. Find yourself something to drink."

[halfassed]

It isn't that he can't. It's just that he doesn't want to. He's exhausted and disoriented and confused, and he doesn't want to go somewhere alone. He's afraid he'll just shut down.

"Yeah." Yes, sir he wants to say, but he doesn't know this guy, and he's not willing to take that step.

He goes to the kitchen. And he starts prodding around at the state of food, too, while he's there. If there's something he can cook, he might.

[notbocceball]

There is food in there. Ba'al does know how to cook he just prefers not to so much of it needs only to be heated up or can be cooked within a few minutes or doesn't require cooking at all. There's also a box of something resembling lo-mein.

"Do you recall the last time you've eaten?" he asks idly in the meantime.

[halfassed]

It actually takes him a minute. It was a few hours before landing on the carrier. Nutrition bar. No telling how long he was unconscious, though.

He doesn't want to elaborate on how his brain is a little fuzzy. Rolls his eyes at the contents of Ba'al's larder: "This stuff is crap," he says. He takes one of the prepackaged things of rice, and some of the frozen vegetables. Two eggs. There's not much in the way of spices, so salt will have to do.

Presumptuous? Okay. But Clint wants something to do with his hands. And he doesn't want to be alone. And this is a solution that also gets him fed.

Burners on, water started boiling, and he dumps the vegetables out in a pan. His motions are quick and practiced. He can cook. He's actually pretty damn good.

[notbocceball]

Ba'al will take that as a no when his question goes unanswered. And really, he does laugh at the comment about his food. "I was unaware I would be sharing my food or would have been sure to accommodation you," he says in a mild sort of sarcasm.

"I will be sure to inform my chef."

[halfassed]

A snort. "I'm the only cook here," he says. "So if there's some competition, you best warn them off."

It's a confidence he doesn't really feel, but saying it makes him a little more at ease.

"So, where did you come from?" he asks. "Middle East?" Water boils; he turns it down and adds the rice.

[notbocceball]

He chuckles over that.

"I was--" spawned "--born in Egypt," he explains. "I spent a considerable amount of my youth in the various countries that comprise the Middle East as well as Africa. Later, I made my home in the United States. I had moderate success in the technology and aerospace industry." Which is truthful in a sense.