TEST DRIVE MEME

[letsgolegion]

TEST DRIVE MEME



Pick a scenario!

Scenario A: The Legion has been invited to a fancy reception with the United Planets Council because various public officials and dignitaries want to meet with the new Legionnaires. Even the older Legionnaires don't want to go, but they've been told that if they bring the rookies they'll get some funding and resources to work on their project of getting the newbies home.

So everyone's put on their best color-changing dresses and self-tying ties and are getting to work rubbing elbows and trying to pretend they actually want to be there.

Naturally, while some of the dignitaries are polite and genuinely interested in the plight of the interdimensional refugees, many of the dignitaries are downright rude in various ways, either by making the rookies feel as if they'll never measure up to the old Legion (as if being brought into this world is some fault of theirs) or by being condescending when hearing about their comparatively "primitive" worlds. ("Oh, you still use fossil fuels there? How quaint!") Some like the green-skinned Coluans are outright hostile, telling the rookies that by helping the Legion, they're betraying organic life because of the Legion's support of Robotica.

A fun time is being had by all, naturally.

Okay, that's a lie, but at least the rookies have each other to talk to, right? And there's no dearth of weird future fashion to quietly make fun off.


Scenario B: The reception is under attack! A Xanthan terrorist group has busted in and plans on taking some of the dignitaries hostage in exchange for some of their number being released from prison.

"Nobody move and no one has to get hurt!" the leader cries out, his gun pointed at Madame President.

Unfortunately for them, the Legion got a last-minute invite to this little shindig. Time to team up with one of your teammates to kick some butt and practice those quips!


REMINDER:

There are only 30 player slots in the game. We do want to remind players of that at each step towards game opening, just so they're aware during the reserve/app process that these slots might fill fast. We've also moved the opening of reserves a day to make it more convenient for the mods. Here are the current dates for upcoming events:

RESERVES WILL OPEN ON: 12/20/15 @ 5PM EST/2PM PST/10PM GMT
APPS WILL OPEN ON: 12/26/15 @ 5PM EST/2PM PST/10PM GMT
GAME STARTS ON: 1/01/16

Comments

[nerdninja]

That was about the answer he was expecting, but it doesn't make the idea any less exciting.

"Self-sustaining? Or is it still dependent on supplies from the planet?" And wait, he said first - "How many are there now?"

[googledox]

All the puns translated thanks the the telepathic earplugs and Brainy briefly closed his his eyes, as if steeling himself against any puns that were to come.

"So you feed off of magical energy?"

That could potentially be a problem in the long-term in helping sustain him. Not an insoluble one but he really needed to go over the list he'd been given of things he had to arrange for the comfort of the new Legionnaires.

He could possibly try to contact Dragonmage for some assistance with it.

[failbender]

He wasn't used to seeing people joke about injuries like that. He never joked about his scar, after all. Even now, even after no longer thinking it was a mark of his shame, the experience behind it had been so traumatic he didn't like calling attention to it.

The other boy's comfort in his own skin made it easier for Zuko to be comfortable, though, and him saying "with what my people have done" made it clear that his own people had caused harm to their worlds' dragons, too.

"My people used to hunt them to prove how powerful they were," Zuko said, staring at the floor. "They killed almost all of them. My uncle found the only two that were left and spared them. He told everyone he'd killed them so no one would go looking for them. My friend Aang and I met them and they taught us about the true nature of Firebending."

Wanting to make it clear he'd never harm them himself, he said quickly, "We're going to keep their secret, too. So that they can live in peace." He paused as he realized he'd just technically revealed said secret. "Uh. At least back home we will. Where it matters. It doesn't matter if I tell you since you're here. And not there."

[oddlittlefrostgiant]

"Oh, I know all about the public turning on someone," Bobby said. "Back home, they're not so fond of people with a mutant x-gene. You know, a genetic...something-something that gives us our powers." Bobby shrugged. "My teammates understand it a little better than I do, honestly." Which wasn't so say that he didn't get it, because he did. They just tended to grasp it a little bit better than him. "But you're right. These snobs. Their opinions? Not so much with the mattering." They'd save the galaxy and people would love them for a week before turning on them again. It was how this hero thing worked, wasn't it? Unless you were named Captain America?

It was funny. He could shift into snow form, but he couldn't turn himself cold to their comments. "Gonna take some time to fully embrace that though." He smiled at Speed. "Who do you focus on?"

[iamresponding]

"They're politicians. Pretty sure it's a job requirement that their imaginations have to be surgically removed before they're allowed to run for office." A pause. "Possibly their empathy, too. Empathectomies all around."

He settled in to lean against the wall again, arms crossed.

"That doesn't mean everyone in this universe thinks like them. Even aside from the people in this 'verse like us that see how big and weird and terrible and wonderful the universe is, there's all the little people that don't always think so little. That maybe don't notice how much is out there but still have big things to care about, like their families and friends and the people around them."

He grinned.

"Trust me, in any place with people like this, there are still always people that have their priorities straight or that see the world for what it is. It's just trying to find a politician with a soul is like looking for a nun in a casino -- it only happens in whacky 90's comedies."

[wherenoonegoes]

"Don't worry, I won't say anything. Sounds pretty familiar, though. We never got that far before I figured out how to stop it, but it certainly wasn't for lack of trying."

And even though Vikings hadn't managed to hunt dragons to near-extinction, there were a few species that were close to dying out anyways. Toothless was evidence enough of that. They'd never run into another Night Fury no matter how far they flew.

"How I managed that is kind of a long story, though. But it might be more entertaining than anything else going on here, if you're up for it."

[demon_on_wheels]

"Took me a while too. My parents, my girlfriend Trixie, my little brother, and his pet chimpanzee. And another driver I know who helped me out of a few tight spots."

Racer X might not have been Rex, as far as Speed himself knew, but he still considered the so-called Harbinger of Boom a good friend.

[oddlittlefrostgiant]

"I'm not sure my parents are the...best people to focus on." Bobby's dad was something of a...conservative man who overly valued the sort of outdated masculine values that made him seem as though he wasn't at all progressive. His mother had mostly only ever been his father's yes-woman. It had been pitiful and terrible and Xavier coming to take Bobby away had been one of the greatest things ever.

He was finally allowed to dream again.

"But then my friends. Scott, Jean, Hank. Warren. Maybe not so much Professor Pryde because she wasn't a big fan of future me." No big surprise, considering the secrets future-Bobby had been keeping. "Maybe eventually my teammates here, once we build more of a rapport."

[failbender]

He was a little interested. This guy had already mentioned creating a tail for a dragon and it was sounding like maybe their different peoples had a few things in common. It seemed that his people had a penchant for violence, too, and both of them were being treated like primitives by the people of this world.

"You're already getting into bragging about things and I don't even know your name."

Yes, "bragging about things" was the way he worded it. Zuko didn't seem to care about how blunt he was.

He could see a good brag was possibly coming on but he was at least curious enough to stay and listen. Stories about dragons were bound to be less boring than the rest of this stupid party.

"My name is Zuko, crown prince of the Fire Nation."

He put his fist in the palm of his other hand and bowed politely.

[wherenoonegoes]

"Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third, Chief of the Hairy Hooligans Tribe of Berk."

He bowed respectfully himself, before adding in a wry tone "Yes, I'm named after a bodily function, get all the jokes out of your system now."

"And it's not all bragging." He defended. "A lot of it makes me look like a suicidal idiot."

[failbender]

"I'm bad at jokes, anyway."

He was pretty sure Sokka would have had plenty of jokes about Hiccup's name, because it was pretty stupid, but he wasn't Sokka and he was terrible at jokes. With shorter jokes and quips, they never really hit the mark and with the longer jokes, he never remembered the punchline. Or he only remembered the punchline and forgot the rest of the joke. He never managed both.

Zuko was very secure in the knowledge that being funny was not really in his wheelhouse. And he was also inclined to give more respect to other leaders. Weird name aside, it appeared that he was speaking to a chief -- albeit a very young chief. (He didn't look much older than Zuko.)

Zuko's mouth quirked slightly.

"Bragging about being an idiot is still bragging if you got away with it. But I'd still rather hear a story than talk to the pompous windbags we're stuck here with. So brag away."

[cryptidtango]

"That...I would have to ask my boyfriend. Nessie is in Scotland, and while I do some traveling international flights aren't my thing. Plus he's done a bit of the scholarly Covenant thing," Verity says after thinking a moment.

There are some points that Verity is lost, but she can't help but picturing Artie, Annie, and Sarah doing much the same as the hacker. There's a smile on Verity's face before processing the rest.

"So, this hacker and...hitter you said? They're part of your team of criminals then?"

There is a distinct crossing of arms on Veritys part. Most people wouldn't be trained, but Verity is also noting the knife sheaths there. Better to have a means to defend herself in case this thief gets prickly. And fork-stabbingy.

Yay. one of the best mutants.

[makeadragonwannaretire]

Azula was about to tell off the fool for his comment when out of the corner of her eye she caught sight of him and her blood ran cold.

Ever since her fateful duel with Katara that had ended her dreams of world conquest, ice, snow and water had all made her so miserably uncomfortable that only a few years of therapy had gotten her calm enough to bathe in a proper bath. Seeing a living being made of pure ice was not at all helping her frame of mind.

And worse still he made stupid jokes. It was like someone had given Sokka bending powers.

A few deep breaths and she hissed back at him, "I am incredibly scary, and I always have a plan."

This was a lie. Something she was more comfortable with. Her plans were forming yes but...there was the problem of the hostage. How to get her free from danger so they could end these pathetic fools who had the unfortunate luck of being trapped in an enclosed space with her.

The chill creeping up her spine proved and inspiration, she did not after all have to do this alone. What was the point of a legion if you didn't make use of it?

"If you wish to be of use I'm going to need to know your abilities and fast. They don't appear to be terribly patient and neither am I."

[makeadragonwannaretire]

If he's looking for a mission, there's a younger recruit looking like she needs an extraction.

Azula has gotten in over her head and she knows it. These simpering fools are commenting so blithly about her hair, her accent, her pale skin, it's all gotten very insulting and as a princess and recovering psychopath, she does not take to such things easily.

"And how do you manage to get anything done with brains that size? They are located in your head aren't they? A head that small cannot contain much. You are simply inspirational for what you overcome." The large headed being remarked sealing his fate. Her eye was twitching and her stance was tense. This was moments away from becoming a blood bath.

^_^

[oddlittlefrostgiant]

"I mean, you want the science behind it? Because it's this whole thing of decreasing the temperature of ambient water vapour and - you know, never mind. I don't really get it either. I just make the ice." To prove his point, he held his hand out and formed a miniature Azula made out of ice. It wasn't perfect by any means - he was still learning the intricacies of his powers - but it was obviously Azula.

If Azula was someone who had her hair done in Dallas, Texas.

"But, you know, I also use it for unpretty things like icicles and snowballs." To say the least. He was probably downplaying a good deal of what he could do. He'd already seen what future selves of himself could do, and it was something to aspire to. "Kind of like that princess from that one movie, except, you know. I'm more fun," he grinned.

[worthlesspride]

Oikawa makes a noncommittal sound. "My present doesn't have space battles. At least not on earth. Probably in other parts of the galaxy."

Grif did bring up a point that Oikawa had been steadfastly ignoring. The fighting. Oikawa could... probably handle himself okay in a fight. He was an athlete, he was in shape, had good aim, and could take a hit (his best friend was not a gentle person, especially not after Oikawa riled him him by teasing him). Still, despite Iwaizumi's violence against him, there had been only one time that Oikawa had ever risen his fist against anyone. And even then he had instantly regretted it. Could he fight? He didn't know.

It was probably just as well his powers were more defensive in nature.

"Is your present in the future from now, or contemporary to this now?"

[worthlesspride]

"I make it a habit to study my opponents, and in this case I thought it prudent to study our predecessors as well. Study them enough, you find out their strengths and weaknesses. Then I exploit our opponents weaknesses."

It had worked well enough in volleyball. And he was ninety percent sure it would work in this case. If anything, that would be his main contribution to the Legion. After all, knowledge was a weapon, and a vary powerful one in the right hands.

"I don't doubt that we will prove ourselves," he allowed himself a smug smile as well. "We'll make them eat their words."

[prettycoolguy]

"In that case, I'm glad I could step in," the Chief replied. He was just glad he wouldn't have to hold Hiccup back from a fight, at least he didn't seem the type to dive back in.

"If it helps you, they think I'm a primitive. And we have a couple thousand years on any vikings, where I'm from."

The natives' snideness and the knowledge of how many people had died to steal the technology in his suit did not sit well together.

"We're not going to impress these people until we've done something."

[prettycoolguy]

The Chief can see all the signs of someone on edge, and breaks into the conversation to try and head it off at the pass.

"Smaller target," he points out. "And less resource intensive. Humans don't rely on one trait to keep them alive." Maybe a touch too confrontational, but hopefully better than where this conversation was going before. At the least, he draws attention off the other Legionnaire.

[whyarewehere]

"It doesn't? Sounds nice," says Grif, with actual sincerity. "I'd take 'not fighting in space' over the superpowers thing too, if I got to pick."

Or 'not fighting at all'. Or maybe even 'not doing anything at all ever', that sounds about his speed.

On the subject of the present, he peers around the room at the many subtle displays of deep future technology. "My present's like..." he thinks about it. "We've been in space since forever now, but not even close to as long as these guys. This isn't our future though, nobody has actual superpowers back home and our aliens are assholes."

"...You know. Even more than these guys." He jerks a thumb over one shoulder toward the crowd, pleased with his own joke.

[whyarewehere]

"I didn't know skeletons could even have brothers," Grif replies. He's calming down a bit. Talking to a skeleton is unsettling, I mean all the bones are right there, but at least this one seems to be friendly enough for now.

"I mean, usually if you see something with a skeleton in it they just kinda rattle their bones and try to hit people with stuff. And aren't actually real."

[nerdninja]

"Well, if robots can have souls..."

As much as the concept of souls is far enough outside of science to make his inner skeptic itch uncomfortably, between the Fugitoid and having been a robot for a while, he's become considerably more accepting of the possibility.

"Maybe there's hope for even politicians."

A beat.

"I don't know about all the ones here, of course."

[wherenoonegoes]

"Okay, there are two things you have to understand before I tell this story. The first? Is that, up until five years ago, Vikings and dragons had been at war for ages. They'd steal food, burn our houses down, kill us, and we'd kill them right back in even greater numbers. The other is that my father was pretty much the epitome of everything a Viking should be. Strong, confident, able to toss around carts filled to the brim with weapons with his bare hands. And I was scrawny, clumsy, and kind of the village screw-up. Not that that's really changed much since then, except I don't screw up as much."

And so began the tale of how Hiccup, in order to gain respect, shot down one of the most terrifying dragons in existence, befriend him instead of kill him, and everything that followed How they and Astrid eventually found out the reason the dragons were raiding them was because another dragon would eat them if they didn't bring back enough food. His initial, disastrous attempt at bringing peace, teaching the other kids how to ride dragons, and then he started getting into the fight with the Red Death.

"...so, we go into freefall, flip around, and Toothless started blasting at its wings and then set off the gas in its mouth with another plasma blast. The Red Death lost control, crashed into the ground, and exploded. Somewhere in the middle of it crashing, I got knocked unconscious by its tail, and part of my leg got taken off."

Which more or less explained why he wasn't so fussed about the leg. It'd been lost doing something stupidly heroic.

"After that, the raids stopped, and because the others and I proved it could be done, the rest of the village started befriending the dragons too."

[makeadragonwannaretire]

She wanted so desperately to snap at him but it wasn't as if he was being unhelpful. Just taking a roundabout way to do it. His confidence gave her the impression this wasn't exactly his first hostage situation, or at least he was not entirely inexperienced in using his powers for good.

"He doesn't want to actually kill the hostage. It would leave him open to attack, but if he gets startled or feels he has to assert dominance he will unless we prevent it. So we have three options. Either we ensure he cannot take the shot, we ensure that the hostage is out of the way, or if we are fast enough, both."

"So I will follow with this question, are you faster at freezing a living creature, or making a barrier to stop whatever that gun will do?"

Because whichever option he took, the hostage or the shooter she would have to manage the other. It was exhilarating to feel the gears in her mind humming away in order and precision the way they were supposed to. Her heart was pumping fierce enough that she couldn't even hear the ambient sound of whispers and paranoia that always played in the background of her thoughts.

[makeadragonwannaretire]

The appearance of another member of the legion distracts Azula and gives her a moment to compose herself while the pompous aliens sputter with indignity at the insinuation.

"Yes, precisely." She mumbled taking a breath and letting it out slowly, her eyes refocusing on the eyes of the last one that had spoken. "It helps that we don't typically waste our time asking foolish and rude questions. Gives us more time to focus on learning things like tact."

The alien went purple with embaressment and ended the conversation with a "Well I never." before turning away flanked by their cronies. Azula's lips were still pressed thin and her gaze sharpened like a hawk as she not so subtly fantasized about what she'd like to do to them. Thankfully however it would only remain a fantasy. Crisis averted for now.