Test Drive Meme #004

[khuimods]

KHU IODUAN; TEST DRIVE MEME #004

I. THE OPARA CORE - May I Borrow That? The engineers of the Opara Core facility are always on the lookout for new technology they can adapt into the ever-growing web that provides communications across the archipelago and beyond. Their staff are assembled represent a wide swath of the native races in Konryu whose skills are mechanically-inclined, and of Dreamfolk who've arrived and want to pitch in. Part of their standard operating procedure is to take an interest in tech coming in with the newly arrived Dreamfolk. An excitable female Muin, her bright shock of electrically pink hair and matching, jewel-like eyes alight with a madcap glee, is wheedling for whatever gadget you have on your person. "Please?" she asks for the third time, blinking at you hopefully. "I'll put it back exactly how it was when I'm done. I promise..." II. KIRIN RODEO - Place Your Bets! At the end of every month, the Mounted Division of the Sentry holds their skills competition. When they're not on the field, their steeds are often the subject of much admiration from children and more than a few adults. Astride many breeds of kirin, some lithe and fleet, some stockier and stronger, these off-duty officers demonstrate their control and bond over the notoriously strong-willed and intelligent creatures with complicated maneuvers. There's a surprisingly in-depth system for betting on one's favourite to win the various matches, and just about everyone's willing to explain the odds to newcomers. There's only one rule: all proceeds go to funding of the city's charities. (Bragging rights on winning are still yours to keep.) Two bells ring loudly over the crowd - last call for wagers! III. WE HAVE REGULATIONS ABOUT THIS - Munga on the Loose! Munga are ill-tempered, rat-sized spiky lizards with a gift for camouflage, and whose venom in their spines and teeth is also highly hallucinogenic. And... they're on the loose. Fortunately, keeping them is highly regulated, and pretty much everyone in Aifaran knows about them, but loose Munga are uncommon enough that the reaction is more likely to be startled flailing at a hint of spines and skittering. Today someone's exotic pet has slipped out of their hands, and it's trailing a harness and lead as it zigzags away, prickling and hissing and going for the ankles. It's given a wide berth, except by those who don't notice until it's too late or those too preoccupied by something else. Hopefully the proper authorities have been notified to catch and return the creature, but maybe someone helpful can keep it from getting too far away? IV. KNOWLEDGE IS PRECIOUS - Accosted By Monks The Tariken monks are out in full force today, their orange and green robes making them easy to spot in a crowd, and there's a high chance you might be approached by one. Their sect values knowledge above everything else, so recording information from Dreamfolk, who are transient to Konryu, is something they see as imperative. Some of the questions are standard ("what's the name of your world? is it anything like Konryu? do have have any special position there?") but sometimes they move into stranger territory, like what's your favourite bath soap scent and how many times you wear your socks before washing them -- all of which are asked with the most studious attentiveness, just in case your answer holds the secret to the multiverse. V. INTO THE UNKNOWN - Watch Your Back Out There The sea patrol discovered the new irregularity a few days ago, reporting that it looks like a series of tall and jagged stone towers rising up from the ocean. It's incomplete as these planar-shunted locations often are, as if something massive had taken a bite of some mysterious city and then spat it whole into the seas of Konryu. Having been chosen as part of the exploration team, you've been working your way through the complicated labyrinth of stone tunnels and dead ends, searching for what the Opara engineers had enthusiastically described as a potential new power source. "Trace the green glowing power lines," was their (sort of helpful) instruction. However the lean, dark and toothy thing you've just glimpsed should probably be a more pressing concern... warn others? Take it on yourself? Pray it hasn't spotted you? VI. WILDCARD - Because You're Not The Boss Of Me Anything else that doesn't fit the above prompts is welcome, just keep it within the game setting please! Applications • Reservations • Taken List • Game Navigation

Comments

[amaskofmyownface]

Truth be told, Tim had completely fallen off Jack's radar after he took over Hyperion. He was, well... disposable. Come on. He was the richest man in the universe. Who'd keep track of individual body doubles?

What's important was that Tim wasn't disposable now. In fact, he currently might just be one of his greatest assets. Tim was combat competent and he knew how Jack operated. Jack knows Tim has reservations about him, so if he wants to utilize his talents to their full potential, he's gonna have to win some loyalty back. Back to the bottom of the ladder, Jack. If you wanna work your way up, you gotta kiss some asses.

Jack shrugged. In a grave voice, "I had my doubles sent to Opportunity while I was restoring Pandora." For a number of reasons, mainly for assassination attempts, showing off, and to serve as workers for The Pleasure Palace. "The Vault Hunters came in and absolutely wrecked the place. It was brutal. They destroyed statues, drowned workers, and -- yes, killed my body doubles. There were too many casualties to tell who exactly died there, but it's safe to say you weren't safe from their rampage... Sorry."

His gaze isn't necessarily softer, but it's not irritated anymore. "They say when the Dreamfolk go back to their universe, they return to the same state of when they left and everything that happened will repeat in the exactly same way. But we've both been given magic and a do-over. I don't intend to let it go to waste, and neither should you."

[blap_blap]

There's something very weird about hearing about your own death. Tim can't exactly say that he's surprised by the revelation, though; being a body double for Jack had more risks than benefits, especially with the way he was bound to piss people off. He had always suspected, since he'd joined the body double program, that he'd die screaming and covered in blood. Sucks to hear it confirmed.

That's assuming, of course, that Jack's being honest. It's probably... partly true, at least, Jack has the tendency more towards half-truths than outright lies. And Jack definitely wouldn't lie about his own death, so Tim can be pretty sure of that part, at least. Man, all that work that he did, all the people and monsters that he had to kill to get to the Elpis vault, right down the shitter because Jack just had to cark it.

So it's kind of a big thing to ask, for Tim to toss his lot back in with Jack when it apparently got him killed the first time. When he thinks about it, though, there isn't going to be anyone around who's more invested in figuring out how to get back to their universes in one piece. And even if he doesn't always like Jack's methods-- or, like, ever, he almost never likes Jack's methods-- it's hard to deny that he gets shit done. Tim doesn't want to be a stepping-stone on Jack's route to power, but he also doesn't want to be dead. He crosses his arms over his chest, pensive and still a little apprehensive, but, god. What are his options, really?

"...Yeah, okay."

Two words that feel like diving right into the deep end all over again.

"What's the plan, boss?"

[amaskofmyownface]

Good.

Tim always folds, one way or another. Besides, there's no time for either of them to be on opposing sides when there's a bigger threat to their lives. He gestures for Tim to follow him back to Hyperion HQ.

"Step 1: We get big enough Hyperion influence in the island. More influence means more power and resources. Step 2: Research. I need to gather up the best minds in Aifaran to figure out the magic in the island. There are uncharted areas in the island and beyond that I'd like you and a few of my accomplices to investigate and bring back to them the best you could. Step 3: Use the research to revive our accomplices and get back to Pandora in one piece, harnessing the island's magic to its full potential."

A beat.

"And then... we make them pay, brutally, slowly and without mercy, until all they can do is beg for death." He grins. Not that he's planning on giving it to them.

In front of them was a tall building, much more modern in style than the buildings around it. A path of perfectly trimmed trees lead up to the front door, where the sign 'HYPERION' sits in classic white and yellow.

[blap_blap]

Tim falls into step next to Jack, an easy enough thing with their similar strides. This feels familiar, having Jack's animated gestures in his peripheral vision while he talks strategy. And Jack's apparently the only thing on this whole damn island that he's at all accustomed to, so even though it means going back to the same shit he'd been doing on Elpis, he's kind of relieved. He knows how this goes, he knows how Jack operates.

"Okay, got it."

It's a simple enough plan for something that'll undoubtedly have a whole bunch of little details mucking it up along the way. But this is the big picture, the overarching set of goals that Jack'll worry about while Tim gets the little things done. And he's just going to ignore the whole... no mercy overkill vengeance bit, because that's a long way down the road. He'll burn that bridge when he gets to it or whatever.

Then they're in front of the new Hyperion HQ, all sleek and modern and manicured. The sense of deja-vu hits him hard-- here he goes again, making the same bad decisions over and over. He hadn't learned his lesson the first time, apparently.

Tim follows Jack.