ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴏɴɢ 18ᴛʜ ᴍᴏᴅs (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.]
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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?
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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[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.