Test Drive Meme: The Overflow

[arielmods]

PLEASE CONTINUE YOUR THREADS OVER AT THE LATEST OVERFLOW POST, THANK YOU.

CITY OF ARIEL: THE TEST DRIVE THE OVERFLOW Since the last post is fast approaching 3k comments and getting laggy for some of our players, we have decided to go ahead and stick up the overflow post. 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

[Continued thread for undiscarded]

[broken_tool]

[And as the man led him, he was quick to follow and remain at a respectable distance to his side. Even through death and the changes that had come of it he remained in the position of the loyal and obedient tool that he knew himself to be. Whenever Zabuza turned he would follow and every little movement made was noted for the future if it came to having to retrace their steps or remember the location they were going to. It probably should have been strange to him to find such a comfort in knowing that his master was in the same place as himself, even if he didn't seem particularly comforted in this place in general. Either way he strove to make things as normal as possible between the both of them, to not upset or agitate the man in any way.

When they stopped he took a quick glance about the area, every little detail he could manage despite the attention that was placed on him. He was used to be looked at this way, almost in a way inventoried for any defects or changes that had occurred to him while out of the older man's sight. It was a frequent thing and Haku knew it, silently soothed by all of the familiarity and normality that existed there.

As for the place in general, he hadn't much thought about the nature of it. Pleasure could be defined in many a way and the beads were just amusing to him, if nothing more, he'd already turned away a few who had tried to proposition him. Luckily they had taken the reject well enough and moved on their way, leaving Haku to his own devices and interest to wander.

The clench on his wrist startled him out of his thoughts, attention moving back to Zabuza's face, searching for any emotion he could find there. By now he'd learned the subtle little signals that many others would miss, though it came with the territory of having to deal with someone who tried to remain as emotionless as was possible.]

I would not have wandered as I had if I had known you were here. [He responded, voice keeping soft and as gentle as possible.] Honestly I was interested to see if this was some kind of dream or jutsu, given that I had been surely dead before this point.

[cawfullyironic]

"Nah, see? I think who ever was in charge of me was slackin'." He sounds like he comes from the American south somewhere. " Just bein' a lazy ass motherfucker who didnt wanna go the extra mile and be a proper multidimensional pimp."

The end of his tail flicks back and forth in annoyance, belying his otherwise calm demeanor. "They can make me stop bein' all ghost like, they coulda given me legs."

[walking_malice]

[Just don't bite him, please. He didn't appreciate being vampire food.

Wow, that was a pretty tight grip. He'd better watch himself around her. Just because she looked harmless, didn't mean she wasn't capable of kicking his butt somehow. Luckily for him, he was used to being around headstrong women, thanks to his traveling companions.]

Johnny's fine. [He let go of her hand and resumed walking.] You're from Japan, I'm guessing? [Sadly, he didn't know enough about Japanese customs to put them to good use.] Is there something you want me to call you?

[noblesnow]

It was a very nice picture. That was the problem. "If there's any way I could help you feel better..."

[dragon_blossom]

[ Only if he's kinky like that.

Despite her innocuous appearance, impeccably cared for hair, and air of refineme-haha yeah Umi refined. Still, fencing and fighting have made her deceptively tough and strong. ]

Johnny, then. [ May as well just be straightforward and simple. ] You can just call me Umi if you'd like, and yes, I'm from Japan - Tokyo.

[daydreaming]

[For a moment, she considers not telling him. What if he's someone looking for her and her hair?

Well, her hair would give her away anyway...]

My name's Rapunzel. [She peers at him, the suspicion still a little evident in her eyes.] Who are you?

[dragon_blossom]

Lucky for her, Umi's image isn't that distinctly centered on one person. There are a lot of people here, a lot of people she knows, and... what did Reika just say and how did she say it? "Honestly, just having a friend here makes me feel a lot better. Just stay with me for now."

Holding hands isn't weird no it's not weird.

[walking_malice]

[Shhhh, that's a secret. He's a hormonal teenager. Of course he's down for trying kinky things. But growing up in the 1920s, people were expected to act properly. The most scandalous girls he ever came across were flappers. And Shania's outfit, but he wasn't going to tell her that. She might bury her tomahawks into his head.]

All right, Umi. [He gave her a friendly smile, trying to put her a little more at ease.] Wow, you're kinda far from home, huh? I think this might be South America... [He wasn't sure, but his travels had been limited to the Americas.] I'm from New York City, in the United States.

btw if they actually get somewhere do you have prefs?

[dragon_blossom]

[ Umi's got hormones, but she's also got the density of a white dwarf when it comes to noticing that someone's into her, and acting purely on her own interests would be improper. ]

South... America? [ She'd like to talk about New York City, one of the places she most wants to visit, but for now there's another priority, and she can't really smile so much as just. Stare. ]

Wh-where in South America would a place like THIS be?

[noticing]

[ Perhaps it's due to the effects of whatever drug had been utilised in bringing them here, or maybe the various inappropriate behaviours displayed publicly about the fair are what robbed Sherlock of his usual attentiveness. Either way, his inability to focus has led him to collide directly with a man who had been standing just half a metre behind him. The beads bequeathed to the detective earlier fell from his hand and scattered around the other man's feet, glimmers of colours now decorating the dusty fair grounds. The list was the only thing Sherlock had managed to retain in his grip.

An egregious error on his part, though quickly righted after a stumble in the opposite direction. The detective collected himself, hands reaching up self-consciously to fix his scarf, which had come undone in the sudden motion.

The list is pocketed, but for now, he leaves the beads where they are. Sherlock's attention has been seized by his new (and unwilling) companion, due to the sharp contrast the man had with the other residents of the city. While most were contented to roll about the (filthy) grounds fornicating in near-impossible positions, abandoning their garments in acts of frenzied passion, this man is as heavily-clad as Sherlock. It earns the man a scrutinising (albeit curious) glance as Sherlock attempts to discern why he isn't in the same state as the other participants of the city.

The dark-haired man isn't just wearing a lot of clothing, he's wearing a lot of really beautiful clothing, likely handmade and hand embroidered, inlayed with trails of gold and what appears to be precious gems. The flamboyance necessary to prompt such an outfit would suggest a variety of occupations, one of which may be a performer, even one hired by the city. But the man is reserved, guarded even, a disgusted look that mirrors Sherlock's own drawn across his features. Judging by his knee jerk reaction to Sherlock's accidental collision with him, a certain amount of anxiety or paranoia can be assumed; it isn't likely that this man allows himself to be touched very often. The histrionics necessary to be a performer would demand a certain level of comfortability with physical contact, so that option proves unlikely. The lustre accompanying the gold lining to his clothing is exclusive to real gold alone, implying the man is in a position of wealth. Upon closer inspection of the gems, Sherlock is able to discern from the cut of the gems and the steep slope of the facets that they are indeed real as well, large as they are. Which means that the man is blessed with an insurmountable wealth, something that only an elite businessman or of royal heritage. No businessman in the world would publicly display themselves in an outfit adorned with genuine gold and precious stones in fear of damaging their companies reputation with their malapropos, which meant the man had to be a royal of some sort. Yet even monarchs would only fashion themselves in such a manner if done for ceremonial purposes, so while that was still the most likely option, the man was of a royal heritage Sherlock was not familiar with.

Interesting. This revelation lent ground to Sherlock's hypothesis about their captors establishing this institution for blackmail purposes, though to what end he was still unsure. Being that the man was likewise repulsed by the behaviours demonstrated around him, the detective thought it would be wise to strike up an alliance with a man not desperate to participate in the cities affairs. Especially a man who may soon be actively involved as a pawn in the schemes of their kidnappers. ]

My brother works for Her Majesty's secret service. He would be disappointed if I didn't look out for the well-being of another monarch.

[ Not exactly true, but the excuse would work for now. His eyes flick over the man once more, and the edges of his lips pull into a slight smirk at the outline of a weapon in the front of the man's robe. ]

Unless you truly believe you're holding enough ammunition to defend yourself against every member of the group which abducted you and me, as well as most of the other people in this area. [ With an air of amusement about him: ] I rather doubt it.

Now you know how John feels when his flatmate doesn't understand or relate to his feelings. HA.

[drjohnwatson]

[John prepared himself to offer a hand to Sherlock, but the man had jumped back onto his feet before John realized anything was wrong in the first place.

But something was wrong, John could read behind the emotional void of Sherlock's behaviour to something else. Most people overplayed their happiness when they wanted to hide their uneasiness; Sherlock overplayed his stoicism. John knew that Sherlock worried about something, and he only needed that to start worrying as well. He ran through a list of possible problems in his mind.

Realistically, their situation could make Sherlock uneasy like this. But when John recalled the situation with Irene Adler, he'd seemed more awkward , disapproving, and sarcastic when presented with sexual situations. Not nervous. He supposed it could be the fact that someone had kidnapped them and sent them somewhere that definitely was not-London. Something seemed off about that theory but John settled with it; after all, what else would bother Sherlock so much here?

He tilted his head upwards to meet Sherlock's eyes on a more equal level, and flattened his mouth before retorting.]

Yeah, well, I was about to, actually, but then you moved so fast that I didn't have time to.

[He stopped and tapped his foot, as though Sherlock tested his patience. John managed to keep a straight face for only a few moments before a new, very geniune and affectionate smile spread across his face. Gratitude that Sherlock stood here, in front of him, filled him and he couldn't help but express it. He needed this wonderful, intolerable man to help him make sense of things, and with him, John could feel safe in a strange, new world.]

I'm really glad I managed to find you. I don't really know what I'd do if I couldn't- I'd be so lost without you. This is-[He glanced around them, briefly watching the booth of more people with their tongues down each others throat than he could count, and then another couple going at it not too far away from them. John apparently could tune out moaning and other noises that accompanied fucking a lot more than he would ever predict. He swallowed, and then looked back towards Sherlock.]

This isn't like anything I understand, and 'orientation' didn't really clarify a lot. But I think I'll be able to manage. How about you?

pink, blue, green, grey, white, & red for Johnny! what about Umi?

[walking_malice]

[Uh oh, two derpy virgins won't likely get anywhere. Johnny got jumped by one of his castmates and totally didn't see it coming. If anything, they could become friends and have each other's backs? He was a little worried that someone might try to attack Umi in some lust-induced state. Even if perverted thugs tried to grab her, Johnny would get her away from them.]

Yeah. [He nodded.] Well, we went through a bunch of ruins and small villages... I guess we could be in the States too, but I don't remember coming across any cities that look like this.

All of that and more so we're good :P

[dragon_blossom]

[ Derpy virgins with porn being zapped into their brains, surrounded by more sex than they even thought could happen in one place at once. Of course, Umi feels that she can take care of herself, and to a degree she certainly can - and that means confidence that she can help Johnny as well, older guy or no.

Umi sighs. ]

I've never seen a city like this, or heard of a place where things like this happen. So, do you believe in other worlds?

[noblesnow]

Of course it isn't. It's not like they're doing anything else, right? Just holding hands. And sitting close together. And what if Reika were to just reach over and--no, bad Reika, don't think about such things.

"I'm glad. It feels nice being with you, as well."

awesome! :3

[walking_malice]

[Speaking of thugs, there were a few guys hanging off to the side leering at Umi, whispering behind their hands and pointing to her. Johnny frowned and nudged the girl to his other side. He felt around the inside pocket of his jacket - good, his knife was there. He didn't like fighting against normal humans, much less kill them, but survival was important.

He'll keep an eye on them as they walk by. He didn't feel afraid of taking them on. People often underestimated his abilities because of his age and size.]

Other worlds? [Blink.] You think that's where we are? I've heard of other dimensions, but...

[dragon_blossom]

Umi, still largely oblivious to Reika. It's not like she's thought about girls like that too much - they don't fit into her main example of romance, her ooey-gooey mushy lovey parents. But holding hands with girls is nice. "It makes me feel like we'll be fine here anyways."

[dragon_blossom]

[ Thugs more like pedophiles as far as she's concerned, if you ignore the long shapely legs and curvy waist and hips in spite of her slenderness. Umi knows there are eyes on her, but with all the willing candidates around, she's barely fazed by any sense of danger. ]

I've been to one, and met people from three others. There isn't a place like this on Earth, is there? I mean really. Look at it.

[kingside]

[Mello isn't the only one feeling sick, and while Lelouch does what he can to suppress the reaction, his hands are clenching tightly into fists the instant he's out of arm's reach, several equally unhelpful violent reactions vying for his attention. No, he can't use Geass, that's been disabled, no, he can't reach for his gun, what's the use if he loses it on his first day, no, he can't turn and yell at the pervert (god, what if that encourages him?), no, he can't-- ugh, ugh, ugh, ugh, ugh, this is intolerable. Would the added fabric of the rest of his clothes at least provided enough of a buffer that any contact between himself and the natives that any-- handfuls they grabbed held nothing at all? Worth investigating, ill-advised though it might be. And if not--

He's jolted out of his (honestly rather useless, a dog chasing its own tail, nothing more than reflex) thoughts by a voice, and warily, he looks to the man blocking (well, standing in) his path, expression closing off immediately. Older than him (though not very), blond, thin, scarred-- now that was interesting. Lelouch looks and doesn't care if the other notices, but after absorbing the sight, any and all attention to it vanishes, as if it too had disappeared. He'd seen worse.

The introduction itself (or what passes for it) is less easy to brush aside, however, and Lelouch lifts an agitated eyebrow, composure falling around him like a cloak. This blond idiot may have a damn good point, but that doesn't mean he has to acknowledge it.]

You'll have to forgive me if I haven't had extensive training in avoiding wandering hands. For some reason, it never came up.

[walking_malice]

[At times like this, he was lucky to be a guy. Fewer chances of being harassed. Homosexuality wasn't widely accepted in the 1920s. The two merchants that had followed his party around, they were boyfriends, and whenever they teased Johnny, it freaked the poor boy out.]

Really? Wow. [He looked impressed.] I'm not sure... Outside of the States, I've only been to South America. [And here, his curiosity as a detective kicked in full blast.] Are there aliens in the other worlds? How did you go there?

[kingside]

To say the least.

[He mutters it half under his breath the moment he hears the observation, caring less about whether the response was appropriate or if the comment was even intended for him and far more about why the hell is this place so revolting, don't they worry about how children might react to seeing all this? Or that-- no, don't even tell him, he's trying to shut his mind down before he can even begin to analyze this place. Not that it's working.

He resists the urge to pull a face (no longer acceptable, he has an image to maintain) and glances toward the speaker, opting for a look of polite curiosity. By no stretch of the imagination does he intend to be open, but it would be foolish to dismiss this person out of turn.]

Intact enough. And yourself?

[dragon_blossom]

[ Ah, the good ol' days when that would get you in all kinds of crap. Not that Japan in the 90s is the pinnacle of acceptance but she's from a CLAMP work, so Cefiro is pretty great for that. At least, she's pretty sure Eagle has a thing for Lantis.

Umi feels impressive when he looks impressed, though she tries to stuff any arrogant feelings down. ] Slow down, curious cat. It was pretty strange, and mostly involved a lot of magic.

thank you! your sherly is brill

[goodoldfashionedvillain]

[ His attention is elsewhere for a moment, dark gaze directed towards the direction behind Sherlock, taking a deep, slow breath as he attempts to calculate. He stares up at the sky, as if mapping out astrological locations, stars not in any understandable pattern that he can discern. He could possibly calculate the position from Polaris, if he could only make sense of them, seemingly fewer of them than before. His brows furrow, and he downright scowls as Sherlock prattles on, you're distracting him and he finally drops his gaze back to the consulting detective, jaw set, teeth gritting. He can't.

Jim Moriarty could write a book, entirely from his own head, pen it out on paper on the dynamics of an asteroid, on an object hurtling through space and how to calculate it's rate of speed and it's mass and velocity and calculated momentum, but he couldn't determine where they were on Earth. Things were familiar but not familiar enough, and he paces away, hands folded behind his back, expression downcast as he watched the ground dirty the shine on his shoes. He's at a loss, he's at a downfall, because Sherlock knows something he doesn't. He's a controlling man, Jim is, he's the one who pulls the strings, who fabricates places in which they meet. He controls when he allows Sherlock to see him.

So he stares, thoughtfully, those shadowed eyes cast towards Sherlock, teeth pressed tight together as he waits, as he stares, and waits for Sherlock to do his little magic trick.

He's disappointed that he knows just as much as himself, disappointed that he's as much at a loss. Fitting, he supposes, that Sherlock knows only as much as he does. He seems to consider the reasons Sherlock gives with an exaggerated, flamboyant display of pursing his lips in a frown, jutting his lower lip out and hunching his shoulders before returning his gaze to the detective. ] Entertainment, or blackmail. [ He echoes, then follows it with a short, succinct laugh. ]

Tell me you're not that dull, dear. [ Those flint black eyes roll to the back of his head, his head tilting with it, neck exposed as he rolls his head to turn to Sherlock again. ]

It's obvious. Obvious what the motive is. Though I doubt you can see it, you're so blind towards these sorts of things, dear, you're so sweet, acting all innocent. Please tell me you actually realise what is going on.

[ He glances towards the left, and towards the right, the shift of his gaze matching the shift of his expression, teeth exposed as he grins. ]

Whomever decided to bring us here is a smart man, Sherlock; [ He lets the name roll off his lips, letting the guttural ending of his name hang in the air for a moment before continuing. ] He…she. They know how to control people.

[ He taps out the side of his temple. ] Basic instinct. They're appealing to the pleasure center of the human cortex. Keeping them - us - docile, sated, complacent. [ His eyes fall closed, and he shakes his head, laughing. ] Could just as easily be something different other than sexual pleasure. could be food, could be anything that increases endorphins. If you keep your people happy, they don't question.

[ Jim stretches his lips wide, dark lashes falling over his cheeks. ]

But it won't work for you.

[ Or maybe it would. Jim felt like playing a bit of a game with the detective's ego for a while perhaps - let him think he could be above it all. A world driven by sex with a very nonsexual being placed in the heart of it - no one could really say if Sherlock would be at a disadvantage, but Jim was willing to bet on it. ]

[noblesnow]

Reika, on the other hand, is well aware of her attraction to women, but has largely ignored it. Romance means meeting a handsome young man and getting married and having kids, right? She can't imagine not doing that. It's just what you do.

She rests her head on Umi's shoulder. That's fine, right? It's just being close after all. "Yes. We'll be all right together."

[dragon_blossom]

Getting married and having kids! That's important. Japan's got that falling birthrate and all.

But she does feel warm now that there's a head resting on her shoulder. "We'll just hold out until the cavalry arrives."

[gloryride]

[In a city in the midst of what could basically be called a cheap street party, it's the man sitting down that attracts attention. Especially, when one is on the lookout for someone who stands out.

Dean may or may not be lucky that the last man who is ever going to judge anyone for making use of those beads is the one casually parting from the sparse groups of people and coming to sit on the other end of that already occupied bench. He's not one for respecting personal space.

Though immediate eye contact isn't what he's after, and he focuses on the crowd now in front of him instead of on Dean. This guy's hair is short enough for any scar around his ear to be at least slightly visible, and that's what he's looking for when he glances over at him.]

Let me guess. Green apple martini, bottled for her pleasure?

[There's sarcasm in his tone, and he's hoping there's reason for it. But the question now is, where're they selling that?]