legionclubhouse | The Telepathic Disaster Test Drive Meme

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The Telepathic Disaster Test Drive Meme

THE TELEPATHIC DISASTER MEME

The Time Trapper, the being responsible for bringing people into the Legion's universe, is up to some strange tricks! It's now creating illusions of alternate universes and dumping the Legionnaires into them to try to test them as Legionnaires. Each time this happens, the captives -- er, participants have knowledge of the scenario, their role, and what they're supposed to accomplish planted into their heads, but still remember who they once were.

To complicate things, the Legionnaires from the 31st century aren't the only ones pulled into this adventure. Strange people from many worlds are being yanked in and finding themselves thrust right into the heart of these conflicts.

These universes are technically just illusions (probably!) and all the participants have an inherent knowledge of this placed in their heads, but it's up to them if they believe it -- and the danger is real. If you die in one of these scenarios you stay dead. This time everyone is being dumped into a scenario where they're dealing with...

AN ATTACK ON TITANTHE SETTING
~~SIE SIND DAS ESSEN UND WIR SIND DIE JAGER--~~

Er, a different attack on Titan.

Titan, Saturn's moon, is a beautiful colonized world with elegant cities and black methane seas. It has long been inhabited by the Titanians, a race of human-looking telepaths that live in the shadow of Saturn's rings. Renowned for their mental abilities -- and sometimes feared for them -- the Titanians are instrumental to the ongoing function of the United Planets. Titan's capital city, Titanopolis, is home to the Titanet Tower, the central hub of the telepathy-fueled communication networks that allow for long-distance communication and data transmission for the entire whole UP.

That's why Titanopolis is under attack by terrorists in the employ of the cosmic horror known as Chronoblivion. This attack is slamming the city on multiple fronts, causing a variety of different disasters, and some of them are a special kind of nasty thanks to the telepathic nature of Titanopolis' citizens.

Your character has found themselves in the middle of the chaos. The streets are filled with the sounds of running feet, breaking glass, and methane explosions, but the voices of the Titanians are strangely silent, due to their tendency to speak via telepathy instead of with speech. Instead of hearing it with their ears, your character's mind is filled to the brim with the Titanians' mental screams.

While it's possible that the civilians in this scenario aren't real, there's no way to be 100% sure. What your character can be sure of is that if they are real, they need their help.

(Based on player preference, for the purposes of the meme, characters can either lose powers, retain their canon powers, or find themselves with new powers. It's up to you.)

SCENARIO A: CHILDHOOD FEARS
Psionic devices all around the city are telepathically injuring Titanians and causing their powers to go berserk, which is leading to a nasty slew of effects. One type of device is causing Titanians to bring the childhood fears of themselves and others to life and make them tangible. Whether those fears are puppets, the clown from IT, being sucked through the drain in a swimming pool, Bloody Mary, or spiders, those fears can come to life and become tangible enough to do damage to more than just your character's youthful psyche. They can be as simple as scary animals like snakes, or complex enough to be capable of speech, based on player preference.

Fortunately, the devices seem to be focusing only on old childhood fears, but that still won't be all that reassuring when your character is facing down the living embodiment of an illustration from "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark" that they never could quite get out of their heads. Still, these constructs can be destroyed several ways: by the character facing the fear, destroying the device causing the effect in that particular area, or good ol' fashioned brute force.

SCENARIO B: METHANE IS APPARENTLY FLAMMABLE
The city is a bit like Venice on Earth, connected by various canals and channels. While standard hover-craft, threshold gates, and monorails are responsible for most transportation, gondolas still ferry around those who want a scenic route over the sluggish methane streams and lakes.

The concentration of gases in the atmosphere, and a vast network of outdoor fire suppression systems help keep any methane burnoffs from being dangerous -- usually. But explosive devices that have been planted around the city's canals and methane-ways are also pumping explosive accelerants into each blast.

This means there are quite a few people that need rescue. Some are trapped in debris from structures collapsing due to explosions. Others are trapped in buildings that are rapidly becoming consumed by fires that the firefighters are having difficulty fighting due to methane feeding into them. The firefighters and rescue workers are overwhelmed and definitely need a hand rescuing civilians and containing the blazes.

SCENARIO C: MASS PANIC
Sometimes people panic in the face of disaster. Sometimes crowds can get violent with each other, due to their fear, and that effect will be ten times worse due to the Titanians accidentally projecting their fear via telepathy and torquing each other up as they try to get to safe places or loot stores for supplies.

This projected panic won't affect only the Titanians, either. While working to calm crowds and usher the Titanians to safer places, rescuers will have to fight through a range of negative emotions being projected onto them by the scared telepaths -- everything from terror to frustration to hopelessness.

SCENARIO D: PROP HUNT
Some nasty creatures have been released in the chaos -- dangerous Sitrekian trillifs. These small, vicious, semi-sentient creatures have amorphous bodies that can sharpen into harder forms -- usually ones with dangerous teeth and claws, capable of maiming or killing sentients.

These mimics take on the form of random objects to hide from threats and to lay in wait so they can ambush their prey and feed on their blood. The only thing that can give their location away is the low-level psychic feedback they give off while transformed into an object. The closer someone is to a trillif, the more they hear their psychic whispers and the more they get "the creeps," sensations of hair standing on the back of the neck, skin crawling, etc.

Trillifs are much easier to kill while in solid form, meaning that it's ideal for your characters to work together and figure out what objects they're hiding as before they transform back -- the moment they transform into their real forms, they're much harder to destroy.

Unfortunately, the trillifs that have been released into this conflict to cause even more suffering are fairly intelligent, and thus are hiding in places that are to their advantage. To hunt them down, characters will have to face them in areas with lots of potential objects they could be hiding as, such as in abandoned futuristic malls.

SCENARIO E: AFTERMATH
Want to have an option that's a little more conversational? Characters can chit-chat in the aftermath of the attack and meet each other only after everything is over. There are still injured Titanians to help move to safer places and work to be done, but the characters can have a moment to bond while finally getting a breather.

SCENARIO F: WILD CARD
Have an idea for something that you don't see an option for? There's lots that can be done with telepathic threats. Perhaps a device causes the Titanians to make your character suddenly ruled by their id, or to have their entire personality invert to be its opposite. Players are free to make up their own threats and scenarios. (Don't worry about getting anything "right," this is a test drive, and the bubble universe is a little slippery and mutable! Get messy!)

OOC INFO
✦ Current players in game can jump into this and do starters if they like so they can play with new players and each other. This meme will count as part of the game canon for those that opt in, though they'll find their memories somewhat fuzzy afterward. These threads can count toward your AC, however the "new CR" credit cannot be applied since not every character joining in is guaranteed to join the game. This takes place just before "The Spies Who Sprocked Us" and "Through the Looking Glass."

✦ Potential players can use this as a standard test drive and may use these threads as their log samples. However, at least one post in their thread must fit the requirements for apps, both in length (200 words) and in quality. If you do plan on using a thread as a sample, please make sure the writing throughout your threads is a good example of your writing skills and has some solid examples of the character's voice.

✦ Potential players can also opt to keep these threads as game canon when they app in, so that their character remembers the scenario and then suddenly finds themselves in the game universe. However, this is opt in and players can choose to introduce their characters fresh if they'd prefer that and no other characters will remember they were there. Please just note which you'd like in the additional info field on your app.

✦ If you are considering apping to the game, currently 2 of 40 player slots are available, but new player reserves open and close at the game fairly frequently, and slots open regularly due to natural drops. The character limit is 4 characters per player. You can also scope out some of the game's upcoming plots here to get an idea of what kind of plots are in the game and what's to come.

✦ Non-players who like the meme but aren't really considering apping to the game are free to jump in. The more the merrier! The Time Trapper wants a confusing situation and will enjoy the chaos of lots of strange people trying to figure out what's going on.

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[The tune is distant and muffled but oddly familiar. And when he gets a little closer and it gets a bit clearer, it's even more odd in its familiarity, because he's pretty damn sure Squiddles isn't actually a thing in this world.

He only recognizes the voice as he's just ducking into the abandoned store to check it out. In his defense, he's only ever talked with Jade with actual spoken words on a handful of occasions, but he still feels like an idiot for not realizing sooner than when he's already got eyes on her, unexpectedly present and unsurprisingly cheerful in the middle of a warzone.

Actually seeing her is like a punch to the heart, in a not necessarily unpleasant way. There's the faint surge of anxiety, all the shit he hadn't yet had a chance to talk to her about suddenly a pressing issue again. But for the most part it's a pang of relief and excitement.

Shit, he's missed her.

Dave is quiet a moment, hanging back in the doorway. A breath to steady himself -- keep it cool, Strider -- before he actually speaks up.]

Jesus, Harley, this universe was lucky enough to be spared the kiddie show squid hell. Don't go inflicting that shit on an unsuspecting reality.

[ dave forgetting the sound of jade's voice is forgivable, because jade can't actually place his tone (not without the inflection davesprite had, at least, that might be what catches her off guard most). she hears her surname and thinks of his red text on flashing across her screen, but thinks "of course" because naturally she ends up in a pocket of space with dave strider. friendship's forever. ]

Dave?

[ so by the time dave's finished speaking, she's already turned around, white dog ears at attention atop her head and a grin on her lip and... her body over the counter because she is catapulting herself at him. ] Dave!!!! Holy shit!

[ when jade curses, it sounds a lot like a twelve year old figuring out how to talk like an adult - that's probably why it's so weird. but she's laughing through her swear, a light giggle that keeps up even when she's slamming into him with all her weight. ] That just means I will have to share it with everyone here, duh!

[Even with less than a day of actual in-person interaction between them, Jade's tone is deeply familiar, even if her voice isn't. She talks just like she types. Dave can practically hear the exclamation marks.

He's fucking ready for the flying tackle hug though. It did not take much time spent actually with Jade to realize that she's absolutely a hugger, and Dave's willing to bet the dog fusion only increased her likelihood to pounce. He's stepped back into a steadier stance by the time she's launching herself at him, weight braced on his back leg so he barely shifts under her weight as he catches her.]

Vetoed. Look, I'm a superhero now, protector of the universe and all that jazz. Pretty sure I'm professionally obligated to stop you from spreading that cancer here.

[Dry as his tone is, there's a little quirk to his lips, and he obligingly supports her weight while she gets hug on. Maybe he even squeezes back just a little.]

[ it's been how long, and dave still talks like a tool, so they're even. preemptive forgiveness, grins in place of play arguments. or in dave's case, a quirk of the lips and probably what is easily the most she's going to get in terms of a return hug from him. more than good enough, really.

jade pulls away to waggle a finger in his face, brows knitted and her other hand on her hip. ]

Oh, absolutely not! It is a children's television show about friendship with bright and cute colors, there is just no way it is any kind of cancer. I think it is time the children of this galaxy got familiar with Fluffthulu, don't you, Dave?? Heheh.

[ if you're trying to prove a point, maybe you shouldn't giggle at the end of your speech. ]

[This? This is why Jade's always gotten away with so much where John would have been devastatingly sassed. Because she's cheerful and cute and Dave's a huge fucking sap. It's really unfair.]

It'd probably get interpreted as horrendously racist against some tentacled alien species, and then what're we gonna do? Sorry, sirs and madams and whatever other genders your particular race consists of, we did not mean to feed into insulting and archaic stereotypes about squid-based lifeforms. It's just that Jade really likes Squiddles and had to share that shit with the entire universe. Jesus.

[Being released at least gives him the freedom to drop a hand onto her head and give it a good rub between the dog ears. Like a cross between a noogie and a petting, almost.]

[ there was going to a snarky response to that pointing out that there are probably tons of fictional depictions of tentacled aliens species, jeez! there are plenty of fictional depictions of humans after all, so what is the problem with some cute little squiddles??

but then dave alerts jade of an itch she didn't even know she had with the noogie-pet hybrid and the white dog ears flatten to allow further scritching. it's like someone is playing with her hair and it is awesome. she's always had the personality of a puppy, but now it's gratuitous.

also, there's a pleased growl. you know the one where you pet a dog and you know you did good with picking the spot that you have pet? yes. ]

Ohhh, jeez, sorry, I can't help it! I didn't want to growl at you, but also, the pets are hard to resist.

[ also a subject change, apparently. ]

Down, girl. I know I've got magic fingers, but if you start humping my leg then we're gonna have a problem.

[His tone is gentler than some others would get, though, a little half-grin making it more teasing. It's a bit subtle, and maybe hard to tell when they really only got to spend that one frog-catching adventure together three years ago, but he's different these days. The smiles come easier and are less controlled.]

Anyway, not the time for an extended heartfelt reunion. It's still hellish out there and I'm supposed to be working.

I think it is my job to be the judge of how good of a petter you are, silly!

[ just saying? jade is the one receiving them. he'll get a solid eight for the time being though. ]

Me too!! I've got to look into some items here, I think, but is there another problem?

[ jade is already wandering off, though, dipping back behind the counter with all the ease in the world. living on hellmurder island probably had it's... arguably perks. ]

[Pfft. Don't try to act all cool after you were just dogpurring under his ministrations. Dave scoffs but doesn't chase the tangent, instead just taking his hand back where it's tucked right into his pocket. No pets for ungrateful puppies.]

Nothing big. Terrorist attack, mass fires, nightmare hallucinations, citizens in peril. Why, what are you up to?

[Someone has not yet gotten to the Prop Hunt part of today's fun.]

Oh, I guess the briefing is up to me then? [ not really awkward, she supposes, so much as just a little presumptuous of her. it's dave, though, he probably would want to know? jade bites her lip, thoughtful, before continuing. ]

Okay, so... basically just walk around everything until it feels like, "fucked up"? [ she raises both hands, striped tights clad legs dangling over the counter, and makes air quotes. clearly this is something someone else said to her, and she's just quoting it. ] There are these things hiding but they're shapeshifters, basically! They are pretty dangerous so we can't leave them be, and the closer that you get to one, the more you realize it's... [ again, air quotes. jade winces a little. ] "Fucked up".

[ it's like hunting for frogs!!

but maybe someone will not die this time. ] Is that what you're doing here, because it is one of the places I was told to try?

[Why is a disaster on an alien planet potentially less dangerous than frog hunting? Why is this their lives.]

Nah, I was just making the rounds checking for distressed damsels and all that. Wasn't expecting a furry and shapeshifting aliens, but hey, you just gotta roll with these things sometimes.

[Dave just shrugs and goes to poke around the shelves for a "fucked up" feeling. Thank you Jade, that's very specific.]

[ jade has a few choice words about furries. she decides not to share them, only to scrunch up her face in clear dislike. ]

Well, aren't you just laidback! [ for her own part, she slips down from the counter, taking off toward a corner more towards the back - when she inevitably doesn't feel anything, jade huffs lightly. ]

I don't even really know what they meant by that... description. I guess something would be off with the item? [ she picks up a small display of what she thinks is probably candy? maybe? ]

[Yep. Being too laidback is literally the biggest complaint amongst his antis.

Dave makes a face at the probably-candy, wandering by to lean over Jade's shoulder and peer at it. God, look at all this emoting. He's a changed man.]

Yeah, cause we're totally gonna be able to notice an error on a Squillberry Gummy logo. Fuck, I still don't even really know what that shit tastes like. Let's hope it's more of a "shivers down the spine" fucked-up or something.

As opposed to a "shivers in your tummy" kind of fucked up? [ clarification is necessary. neither of them needs to catch some kind of space sick.

with dave staring over her shoulder, the differences are obvious - miniscule is kind of how dave operates. she'd realized that... a while ago, over text, that coolkids always kept their cool. but dave's over here, making a face, looking down at a display for candy with in displeasure. earlier, he'd smirked just a little - it's tiny, easily put aside as being overwhelmed by seeing jade again after all this time, but. ]

I know you said that... this is not really the time for a reunion or whatever, but. [ she's gotta point it out. ]

Those are called "butterflies" and usually indicate sappy romantic feelings, so yeah. As opposed to that.

[But dammit, Jade. Don't call him out like this, he was trying to avoid tripping face first into this abyss of feelings like a responsible superhero with shit to do. His cheeks tint just faintly pink and he glances to the side, a slight turn of his head giving away what his shades hide.]

Yeah. Missed ya.

[ and that's just another example of the little changes in dave strider for the ever growing pile. he's taller, baby faced in that way only someone in their mid to late teens can be, and now he's awkwardly looking away. "cool", sure. jade raises an arm and elbows him lightly. ]

We are talking about two different things! I meant a tummy ache from eating the weird space candy neither of us would be accustomed to, fuckass.

[ just sayin', but she's grinning wide again. ] Missed you too. I don't know what happened... but you seem a little happier. I am glad about that!

[For some reason, that makes the faint blush evolve into a bright red face, and Dave neatly spins back around to go inspect another shelf.]

Y'know. Three years. A lot changed.

[Shit, Dave Strider being minimally wordy?? What the fuck.

(Shit. That conversation will have to happen eventually, won't it? He knows he can't put it off forever, but he sure as hell doesn't wanna do it in the middle of an attack on an alien planet in some Time Trapper hallucination.)]

Hmm.

[ thoughtfully, she pauses, looking at his back as he busies himself away from her. it's like a wall just shot up between her and dave, and jade's a little used to that. dave was always trying hard to keep some kind of distance between himself and others, though how legitimate that distance was seemed up to how nosy you were willing to be.

ah, well. live and learn. ]

Tell me about it!

[ maybe not now, but later is good, too?

jade decides she'd rather get to the highest shelf here so she pulls herself up, climbing each shelf. a few items clatter to the floor, but she pays them no mind. ] Lots and lots of stuff happened on the ship, too! You don't think I'm the same, right?

[ she's not. but maybe that isn't obvious considering jade puts up a wall between herself and others from time to time, too. ] Well, we're still friends, obviously! But stiiiiiill. Different. I'm different, too!

[Is she different? It honestly isn't a thought that'd occured to Dave. She seems as unphaseably upbeat as ever. Is it just a subtle difference, or had he just never thought too deeply about it? There's the very real possibility that he'd just always taken her at face value and thus for granted, and fuck, that's a shitty thing to think about.

Jesus, he's kind of an asshole, isn't he? Dave frowns at the colorful candies on the shelf for a moment before looking back over with an attempt at a smirk.]

Oh yeah? How?

[Maybe if he makes it sound like a joke, with a teasing tone and a halfhearted little smirk, it won't be obvious that he really does wanna know.]

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The Telepathic Disaster Test Drive Meme

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