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brethrencourt2017-04-29 11:17 am
pyracy) wrote in brethrencourt2017-04-29 11:17 am
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TEST DRIVE 001b
Try on those ridiculous clothes, sample the catering, and run through your lines. It's time for the Long 18th Test Drive.
ARRIVAL: Characters come to in a dark, tropical forest in a huddle. There are the sounds of strange birds, animals, and insects all around, some of them perhaps worryingly close. With a closer inspection, arrivals realize they're on an incline: Going up will prove fruitless, no matter who they are. The ground there starts to grow rocky the further they climb, and they may find themselves slipping back down to their arrival point, even if they're expert mountain climbers. The ground sloping downward will eventually level out leading toward light, music, and noise. But for the moment, they're simply a group of lost people (or monsters/bipedal animals/robots/etc) with no idea where they are or how they got here. Now's probably a good time to ask, "Who the hell are you? Where am I?" Time to use the buddy system.
TORTUGA: There's a town off the coast of Hispaniola that never sleeps, and that town is Tortuga. It's swapped hands more times than anyone can count, but for now, the French have it. And they do like the extra money the pirates that frequent it bring in; they like it so much that they imported over 1600 prostitutes from Europe to keep them happy. So you might as well relax while you're here, as much as you can with random gunshots and fist fights, anyway. Drop in for a drink at the Faithful Bride, check out the wares for sale (provided to you tax-free thanks to piracy) near the dock front. Visit the warehouse where those ill-gotten goods are stored and distributed. Maybe you're looking for work on a ship? The captains can usually be found - frazzled and busy - in the taverns and at the shipwrights and everywhere in between (just look for the hats), and if they're in a good mood, they might be willing. But the key point of Tortuga is this: Have fun. Some examples might include: A barfight! Wandering into a brothel (maybe by mistake)! Getting duped into joining a crew! There's no end of trouble to get into.
MIRROR POST: When they arrived, every person found, in a pocket or a bag or tucked away somewhere on their person, a little compact mirror. It's nothing fancy: Square, with hinges and a latch that keep it closed, the outer casing carved from seashell, the inner mirror a little spotted with age. But if it's played around with enough, it quickly becomes apparent it works as a communication device. Here you have access to all of the marked folks, no matter how far and wide they might spread. Need to have a heart to heart with a buddy in Singapore? Want to send out a general ad to everyone at large? Looking for answers to questions? This is the quickest way to get all of that.
CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE: The world is open, and it's full of pearls that are just waiting for you to take them. Maybe you want to have some quiet time to scrub clean in a bathhouse in Singapore. Perhaps you're visiting the fabled pirate city of Libertalia in Madagascar. Maybe you've found yourself lost in Mayan ruins or stranded on an island. Or you were shipwrecked in a hurricane. Or you've decided to relocate to Port Royal or one of the American colonies for a quieter sort of life. Either way, this is your story, might as well make it a good one.
Rafe Adler | Uncharted 4
[One might think a man tattered to hell and back, blood spattered, and carrying a jewel encrusted sword might already be from this world. He's certainly got the I'm A Bad Dude look already. But upon closer inspection, the torn t-shirt is too high quality to be spun from any old seamstress, and the watch is one might see under the Way Too Expensive shelving in stores.
Rafe Adler has arrived with you, and he's more than likely expecting you to know the name. Once he picks himself off the ground, he's turned with his back facing the incline and the pointy end of sword extended to you. It's all very menacing, up until he can't stand the fly buzzing around his head, leaning away with it with an irritated curse under his breath.]
Where the hell are we? Who are you?
[At least he asks basic questions, even with how extra he is.]
ii. pirate heaven, rich boy hell
[Rafe has all but sheathed the sword he's arrived with in wake of the fact it's the Gucci of weaponry. Have you ever seen a pissy rich kid throw a tantrum outside of film? Here's your chance, because this is the third time he's stormed off from a wares stall with his hands clenched so tight his knuckles are a pale white.]
You and I are seeing the same, right? You're smart enough to recognize this as stainless steel? [If he's recognized you as another Marked, he's shoving a watch easily worth hundreds into your face. The guy's too angry to consider your judge of character, gesturing out to the docks.] These morons don't think it's enough to get a a cabin in ship ride back home. It's a clock! On your wrist!
iii. you can call me on my shell phone
[Spend enough time trying to fix your hair, and you'll realize that the mirror is a way to FaceTime. Rafe's got a pretty picture for whichever Marked he's accidentally reached, which just might be one or all of them. The sun is setting, the waves are rising and falling behind him, and he's shirtless. Relax, his shirt is hanging somewhere to dry.]
I don't think we'll get to hack this thing, but it'll do. [He heaves a sigh, dragging his hand down his face before he brings himself to look back at the called.] How are you holding up, because I'm just peachy.
ii - i can't help myself, i'm sorry
Thank God he knows how to blacksmith, at least.
Which is why his expression doesn't change a bit from the slightly annoyed one he's been wearing while scanning the horizon, entirely too full of wooden ships and not a plane in sight.]
Yeah, I do. I got one pretty similar sitting next to my Tour de l’Ile and Patek Phillipe back home. Sidebar, and feel free to ignore it if you've already maybe considered the idea, but have you thought that maybe a watch isn't the highest of priorities from people who don't seem to even know what soap is. That's the thing, though, right? Back home. Don't know if you've noticed it or not, Dorothy, but we're not exactly in Kansas anymore.
Second sidebar, they're not wrong. It's the cheapest one in my whole collection.
don't be sorry i feel so alive
There's a deep seated anger brewing in the glare Rafe gives him, but he has a big enough shred of self restraint not to start something when they have enough problems. He lowered the watch and redirects his gaze out to the ships, exhaling an unsteady breath.]
I'm taking up my right to ignore your sidebars for both our sake, asshole. I don't suppose you have a better idea of getting back to Kansas.
no subject
Are you gonna throw a tantrum if I say no, Monopoly Jr.? [Okay, so this is probably not the best way to go about it and while Tony Stark is not one for a whole lot of self-reflection before he opens his mouth...Usually, anyway, he takes a mental step back for a moment, before waving a hand, encompassing the docks, the people, everything around them.]
You see this? I don't think this is some living history vacation destination. And if it is, these people are extremely dedicated to it, and I'm kinda hoping they get bonus checks for the authentic smell.
Now, I could be wrong, but I'm guessing it's going to take more than clicking your heels together for that to happen. So no, I don't have a better way. Yet.
no subject
God, he wishes. It's becoming increasingly obvious he's not worth anything here, and he's got the feeling Tony is probably worth more back home. Somehow.]
Yet. Well, when you concoct some worthwhile plan, Mr. Brain, you let me know. I'll be over here trying to consider how in the hell it's even remotely possible this isn't some reenactment.
[He's about to walk off, and he should walk off, but he takes about two steps past Tony before he's rounding back on him.]
Tour de l’Ile? Patek Phillipe? Who even are you?
no subject
But, okay, maybe he has been expecting that, maybe he hasn't. Tony's not even sure anymore at this point, after finding himself in some kind of...Twisted Peter Pan story or something. He doesn't expect the name Tony Stark to mean a damn thing to the more piratical natured running around this place, but other people? Maybe?
Maybe he's just a little disappointed it's stolen his thunder to realize that some people apparently live under a rock. And for a moment, he says nothing, reaching up to scratch at the side of his nose, before looking back to the docks briefly.]
My name's Tony Stark. And if you don't know what infinite cylinders, string theory, and cosmic strings are, then you should be nice to me, because I'm the guy that's going to figure this out.
[And if he sounds arrogant it's...Well, it's because he is, for one. For another, he is, like...70% sure he can actually back that claim up. Maybe a high 67%. Still, he figures it's better odds than anyone else is boasting.]
no subject
To his credit, Rafe pulls his head out of his own ass long enough to make some genuine effort to remember. He gives Tony one long, considering look, but it ultimately ends in him shaking his head and placing a hand over the hilt of his sword.]
So... what? This isn't lecture hall, professor. Unless we're going hunting for some portal... machine that shoved us through time and space, you're going to need to be nice to me. [He gestures to himself with his free one, then out to the soap-less pirates occupying the docks.]
Rafe Adler. I might look like a million bucks, have a billion bucks, but you aren't going to find anyone better at navigating through the wild beyond this shithole. I was on top of Henry Avery's treasure when the world decided to rewind, so I get the universe's sense of humor for me. So why are you here?
no subject
But, of course, just like he's expected, the implications here go right over this guy's head. True, true, not everyone is Tony, and believe it or not, Tony absolutely understands that. He does! But JeeeeEsus Christ, this kid.]
Me? [He mockingly points to himself.] Normally I'd say something along the lines of being smarter and richer than you, give some kind of...I don't know, pithy one-liner. But the truth is, I get the feeling it's wasted effort, and that? I am already too bored for, so let's keep it simple: Science. Math. I'm really good at those. Guess which one of us is more likely to break the time travel code.
no subject
If looks could kill, man. Rafe rears back, fingers curling and uncurling with a cursory glance to Tony's neck. Thankfully, "solution" of wringing it seems to pass with an exhale shortly after, Rafe raising his hands in mock defeat.]
Listen, Bill Nye. I'll make things simple. I got a uh... knack, for finding shiny things. With that comes knowing what traps pirates lay, what clues they leave. Now, you're a smart guy, I'm sure you'll be able to code crack whatever bullshit the universe threw us in just fine. But on uncharted terrain? You'll get yourself blown up. That's where I come in.
So if I have to be nice to you for knowing the periodic table, that's fine. But let's have it go both ways, shall we?
no subject
Do you see this, Rafe? This is Tony folding his arms with a not-so-very-well-concealed eye roll. In fact, it's not so concealed at all; it's exaggerated enough Tony's sure he's just seen his brain. Is that even possible? Who knows, but he'll swear to it.]
Yeah, okay, Rhinestone Cowboy, that's fine. But going on the assumption that every person here is good at just one thing? Not the best way to make friends. My history can use a little dusting off, sure. I'll get right on that. But if you're gonna go with me being just a lab rat? You're only half right.
[Shrug. Can a shrug be annoying? Because this shrug absolutely is.]
Besides, you're in a town full of pirates. If I wanna know anything about them, it's called going to the bar. Don't exactly need to be an expert to do that, but I'm sure it helps.
no subject
You're right. You're not a one trick pony, and I'm not exactly... Indiana Jones here. But I'm pretty sure I'm a little more capable than some pirate here just getting drunk off their ass. You tell them you're from the future, that you're looking for some... sign from some alien whatever what have you, and they're probably gonna throw you into the mud pit.
[He's calm, he's fine. Here, have some effort as a smile that doesn't convey the desire to murder.]
Assuming we're both relatively good at what we do with redeeming qualities on the side, the pros outweigh the cons here. I don't know about you, but I'd rather keep company of someone who understands a reference.
no subject
[Did you get all of that?
But he unfolds his arms, giving another shrug that is perhaps not as annoying as he spreads his hands in a gesture of peace.]
I am all for making friends. In fact, friends that know what showers are and...You know, basic hygiene? The best kind of friends to have. So let's agree that I don't know you, you obviously don't me or this conversation would be moot, and maybe the main priority should be info instead of seeing who has the bigger wallet. I like it. Let's do it.
i
But the man with the sword gets her attention, mostly because he points it at her as she starts to approach, and she pauses, looking him over. She gives him a moment, aware that everyone seems to be in the same situation and that it makes for good people who are very rattled. Even when he leans away, she obligingly keeps her distance for the moment. She's tall, a little broad in the shoulders, wearing what looks to be some sort of uniform in red white and blue with a matching shield on her arm.]
Still working on that answer. I'm Stephanie Rogers. What's your name?
[She easily pegs him as being fairly modern, which not everyone in the little group is, she's found out. There are questions, but she's trying not to ruffle feathers any further than they already are- while doing her best to keep everyone safe and make this a little less terrifying for the other people, if she can manage it.]
no subject
That shield looked too solid to get around, even if she'd picked a fight like he hoped.]
Rafe Adler. I'd ask why you don't know that, but it looks like you never got the memo Fourth of July is over.