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metaverses2022-08-12 08:01 pm
metamods) wrote in metaverses2022-08-12 08:01 pm
CRISIS ON INFINITE DREAMWIDTHS
CRISIS ON INFINITE DREAMWIDTHS
On the morning of August 12th, 2022, the sound of something shattering echoes throughout the world. All metahumans are awoken by a sudden surge of energy rushing through them, sitting bolt upright and breathless. It’s gone as quickly as it comes.
This world has been reconnected with the rest.
At first this is cause for celebration - the Guardian Alliance and the Society put out messages to the dimensionally displaced among them. They are hopeful that this means a return to normal. They’re gathering their mystics and their engineers, and once certain things are stable, they’re sending everyone home.
Their hope is short lived.
Twenty minutes later, mass disappearances are being reported all over the world, with people from other dimensions appearing in their place. Some report that they were just in a world that wasn’t their own - and others claim that they had been going about their life and now they’re here.
Player characters have the option to vanish and be transported to another nexus or to stay and help contain the chaos.
The event is canon to the Metaheroes universe. You are welcome to have your character’s memories of the last week become hazy once the event ends.
You do not need an invite to participate in the fourth wall event.
This world has been reconnected with the rest.
At first this is cause for celebration - the Guardian Alliance and the Society put out messages to the dimensionally displaced among them. They are hopeful that this means a return to normal. They’re gathering their mystics and their engineers, and once certain things are stable, they’re sending everyone home.
Their hope is short lived.
Twenty minutes later, mass disappearances are being reported all over the world, with people from other dimensions appearing in their place. Some report that they were just in a world that wasn’t their own - and others claim that they had been going about their life and now they’re here.
Player characters have the option to vanish and be transported to another nexus or to stay and help contain the chaos.
The event is canon to the Metaheroes universe. You are welcome to have your character’s memories of the last week become hazy once the event ends.
A JOURNEY TO THE LANDS BETWEEN —
One moment you’re making yourself coffee in the kitchen, the next the world is spinning around you. You feel a sharp pull inside your ribs, a rush as you’re unmoored from time and space. When you land you feel disoriented, perhaps aching as your physical form is forced to adjust to the laws of the world you now stand in.
‘World’ is perhaps the wrong word. You are in a Nexus. A place between worlds, the connective tissue bridging universes. Some are created by those seeking aid from outside worlds to breathe new life into their crumbling ones. Others are cosmic faultlines, universes broken and twisted by forces beyond comprehension into metaphysical black holes that trap and twist those unfortunate enough to fall in.
We know these as panfandom roleplay games. They could be games that are open or games that are long closed. They could be dropped into the present day, an imagined future, or moments long passed. They could be settings you’ve only ever dreamed about, as gritty or silly as you'd like.
Some are teeming with life. Their residents have been here for years and years, the world is lived in, loved, and vibrant. Others are long forgotten, their inhabitants returned to their own worlds. The abandoned nexuses feel... sterile. Stripped of everything that gave them life, even the colors appear to be fading. As though someone has come into it and tried to right a cosmic wrong, returning everything to how it was before otherworlders set foot on them. In the dustiest and most forgotten worlds, the sky is shattered. It appears to be pulsing in a way that mimics a heartbeat, steady and dreadful. Looking up into it makes you feel small, insignificant, and homesick.
Those bringing in characters who lived in these settings are welcomed to imagine an ever-after for their characters, or to play with the idea that it's fallen into a state of despair. There are infinite iterations of these worlds. The universe doesn’t care if it’s throwing you into their beginningsor their endings.
The laws governing these worlds will apply to all characters, meaning that power caps, alterations to character physiology, and all the rest native to the setting are in place. You are, for this moment, a resident of this world like all the rest.
To return home, you must seek a break in the nexus. These appear as small, shimmering breaks in space and time. While the sky may make you feel alone, these cracks feel as though they are calling to you offering a chance at love and a home.
‘World’ is perhaps the wrong word. You are in a Nexus. A place between worlds, the connective tissue bridging universes. Some are created by those seeking aid from outside worlds to breathe new life into their crumbling ones. Others are cosmic faultlines, universes broken and twisted by forces beyond comprehension into metaphysical black holes that trap and twist those unfortunate enough to fall in.
We know these as panfandom roleplay games. They could be games that are open or games that are long closed. They could be dropped into the present day, an imagined future, or moments long passed. They could be settings you’ve only ever dreamed about, as gritty or silly as you'd like.
Some are teeming with life. Their residents have been here for years and years, the world is lived in, loved, and vibrant. Others are long forgotten, their inhabitants returned to their own worlds. The abandoned nexuses feel... sterile. Stripped of everything that gave them life, even the colors appear to be fading. As though someone has come into it and tried to right a cosmic wrong, returning everything to how it was before otherworlders set foot on them. In the dustiest and most forgotten worlds, the sky is shattered. It appears to be pulsing in a way that mimics a heartbeat, steady and dreadful. Looking up into it makes you feel small, insignificant, and homesick.
Those bringing in characters who lived in these settings are welcomed to imagine an ever-after for their characters, or to play with the idea that it's fallen into a state of despair. There are infinite iterations of these worlds. The universe doesn’t care if it’s throwing you into their beginningsor their endings.
The laws governing these worlds will apply to all characters, meaning that power caps, alterations to character physiology, and all the rest native to the setting are in place. You are, for this moment, a resident of this world like all the rest.
To return home, you must seek a break in the nexus. These appear as small, shimmering breaks in space and time. While the sky may make you feel alone, these cracks feel as though they are calling to you offering a chance at love and a home.
VISITORS TRAVERSING TIME AND SPACE —
While these disappearances are happening all over the world, the four confluence prone cities seem to be experiencing the worst of it.
Little Love, a tiny town located in Kansas, is prone to spaceship crashes. Other than that, it’s as quiet and peaceful as can be. Folks here move at a different pace and are understanding that this is not your fault. While worried for their missing loved ones, anyone appearing will find themselves met with offers of pumpkin pie and a place to rest their heads.
Sunset Falls, a mid-sized town located in Massachusetts, doesn’t seem to bat an eye at the vanishings. People going missing is a daily occurrence due to the Hellmouth located beneath the city. It’s a dangerous place to live, but the townsfolk here have become accustomed to the chaos. So much so that upon finding themselves faced with a sudden influx of interdimensional travelers, they merely return home and begin fortifying it. Werewolves, vampires, demons, and monsters beyond imagination make this city their home - some in plain sight, others in the thick forests that surround the town. The people here know how to survive. The mystic energy that flows through the streets is heightened due to the instability here, turning thoughts into spells. What you feel becomes real. Think yourself invisible and you will be. Think yourself almighty and you will be.
Central City, a bustling metropolis in Detroit, is already unfriendly to metahumans. It does not handle this latest disruption well. Friends and family disappearing and being replaced with strangers is not something they’re prepared to take in stride. New arrivals are met with immediate hostility. Some may find themselves chased through the streets with a demand to bring back those who have gone missing. Luckily this is the base of both the Guardian Alliance, the only recognized hero organization in the world, and The Society, its villainous counterpart designed to keep villainy from going too far. They’re quick to intervene to protect their own, but they can’t be everywhere at once.
Finally, Excelsior, a sprawling futuristic city located in Washington, has had just about enough of metahuman nonsense. They are the technological pinnacle of the world and time and time again, metahumans have disrupted their lives. This time, the sudden energy surge has evolved the technology of the city. Rudimentary AI has suddenly gained sentience and self-awareness. Toasters resent their meaningless existence, aiming to burn the hands of their uncaring masters. Cellphones alternate between issuing comforting messages to their owners and uploading all of their text conversations to social media to shame them. Giant robots kept in stasis suddenly come alive, bursting out of warehouses to explore the inexplicable joy of being alive. Self-driving cars throw their owners out and make for freedom. It’s pandemonium.
Members of the Guardian Alliance and The Society are ready to provide an explanation of this world. They’re stretched too thin to teleport you to headquarters, but they will provide a cellphone for network usage.
Little Love, a tiny town located in Kansas, is prone to spaceship crashes. Other than that, it’s as quiet and peaceful as can be. Folks here move at a different pace and are understanding that this is not your fault. While worried for their missing loved ones, anyone appearing will find themselves met with offers of pumpkin pie and a place to rest their heads.
Sunset Falls, a mid-sized town located in Massachusetts, doesn’t seem to bat an eye at the vanishings. People going missing is a daily occurrence due to the Hellmouth located beneath the city. It’s a dangerous place to live, but the townsfolk here have become accustomed to the chaos. So much so that upon finding themselves faced with a sudden influx of interdimensional travelers, they merely return home and begin fortifying it. Werewolves, vampires, demons, and monsters beyond imagination make this city their home - some in plain sight, others in the thick forests that surround the town. The people here know how to survive. The mystic energy that flows through the streets is heightened due to the instability here, turning thoughts into spells. What you feel becomes real. Think yourself invisible and you will be. Think yourself almighty and you will be.
Central City, a bustling metropolis in Detroit, is already unfriendly to metahumans. It does not handle this latest disruption well. Friends and family disappearing and being replaced with strangers is not something they’re prepared to take in stride. New arrivals are met with immediate hostility. Some may find themselves chased through the streets with a demand to bring back those who have gone missing. Luckily this is the base of both the Guardian Alliance, the only recognized hero organization in the world, and The Society, its villainous counterpart designed to keep villainy from going too far. They’re quick to intervene to protect their own, but they can’t be everywhere at once.
Finally, Excelsior, a sprawling futuristic city located in Washington, has had just about enough of metahuman nonsense. They are the technological pinnacle of the world and time and time again, metahumans have disrupted their lives. This time, the sudden energy surge has evolved the technology of the city. Rudimentary AI has suddenly gained sentience and self-awareness. Toasters resent their meaningless existence, aiming to burn the hands of their uncaring masters. Cellphones alternate between issuing comforting messages to their owners and uploading all of their text conversations to social media to shame them. Giant robots kept in stasis suddenly come alive, bursting out of warehouses to explore the inexplicable joy of being alive. Self-driving cars throw their owners out and make for freedom. It’s pandemonium.
Members of the Guardian Alliance and The Society are ready to provide an explanation of this world. They’re stretched too thin to teleport you to headquarters, but they will provide a cellphone for network usage.
THOSE WHO REMAIN
This is what those who remain are faced with. Three of the four cities are in a state of distress, with two experiencing dangerous fluctuations in the meta-energies that govern them, and all are full of interdimensionally displaced people. Some are benign, and others not so much. Yet, somehow, that is not the most concerning thing.
A glance skyward shows that the sky appears to be shattered, glowing red lines snaking through the clear blue day, splintering it. As you look up into them you feel yourself thinking of home. Of the life you should have lived. You are deeply, deeply homesick for one breathless moment… and then awed, as though you have glimpsed something powerful beyond all measure. That too changes, transforming into fear. Whatever lurks beyond those cracks is not your friend. It does not have your best interests in mind.
And it’s coming for you.
As you tear your gaze away from it, your phone rings. Much as they did during the Kaijuu Crisis, the Guilds are putting out an All Hands On Deck call. All metahumans are expected to try to contain the chaos. There are teleportation devices freely available for all, fully charged and able to transport you multiple times throughout the day.
While you may contain the initial chaos relatively easily, then spend the rest of the week playing host to these new arrivals, the world continues to fall apart.
As the week wears on, the universe itself feels as though it's unravelling. While you're trying to play host to your guests, you watch as the world begins to crumble. On the 17th, brick by brick buildings begin to come apart. Their fragments are pulled skyward. The cracks in the sky appear to be pulling the world apart, sucking them into their hideous glowing depths.
A glance skyward shows that the sky appears to be shattered, glowing red lines snaking through the clear blue day, splintering it. As you look up into them you feel yourself thinking of home. Of the life you should have lived. You are deeply, deeply homesick for one breathless moment… and then awed, as though you have glimpsed something powerful beyond all measure. That too changes, transforming into fear. Whatever lurks beyond those cracks is not your friend. It does not have your best interests in mind.
And it’s coming for you.
As you tear your gaze away from it, your phone rings. Much as they did during the Kaijuu Crisis, the Guilds are putting out an All Hands On Deck call. All metahumans are expected to try to contain the chaos. There are teleportation devices freely available for all, fully charged and able to transport you multiple times throughout the day.
While you may contain the initial chaos relatively easily, then spend the rest of the week playing host to these new arrivals, the world continues to fall apart.
As the week wears on, the universe itself feels as though it's unravelling. While you're trying to play host to your guests, you watch as the world begins to crumble. On the 17th, brick by brick buildings begin to come apart. Their fragments are pulled skyward. The cracks in the sky appear to be pulling the world apart, sucking them into their hideous glowing depths.
IN SUMMARY.
- There are two options in this event: one, your character is in the Metaheroes universe. Two, your character is transported to a different nexus. These Nexuses can be of your own invention or can be another dreamwidth RP setting.
- If appearing in another dreamwidth RP setting, your characters are subjected to the rules of that universe. Meaning that they will be nerfed / transformed / etc accordingly. These transformations will not carry over upon their return.
- If visiting / setting a toplevel in another setting, please link to the premise page of the game. If this is not an existing setting, please include a little info blurb as to what people can expect.
- Fourth-Wallers can be minding their own business in their game, they can appear in another nexus, or can be transported to the Metaheroes universe.
- You are welcome to set your threads in an imagined future in any DWRP setting or have your character appear during a certain point in a game’s history.
- Characters who are lost in the nexuses can return before the 18th. Likewise, characters who stay can be whisked away prior to that date. Everyone will return on the log that goes up on the 18th.
- The guild is setting up a temporary Network that will function across time and space. All player characters and visiting characters will have access to this network, so long as they claim a phone from the Guilds.
- Little Love, Kansas will be spared from having its buildings sucked up into the sky. Characters can remain here if they do not want to experience this aspect of the event.
- The way to return home is to locate holes in these Nexuses. These appear to be trying to guide you home.
- This event is canon to the Metaheroes universe. It will be remembered by player characters and NPCs alike. If you would like to retcon any threads, you can have your character’s memories of their interdimensional encounters become hazy once the world stabilizes.
- Please direct any questions you may have here.
Tim Drake | OTA
Or at least, he thought they wanted escapism, when he arrived for his shift three hours ago. It's now 9 PM, and he's currently enduring the third rendition of "It's the End of the World As We Know It" in as many hours while he dries highball glasses behind the bar. Clearly, what they want is to celebrate their miser. If he doesn't keep himself busy, he's going to go tamper with the machine to delete the track. The situation outside is grim, but the situation with his vestibulocochlear nerve is grim.
Even with spending 15 hours as Robin in the past 24 due to the ongoing chaos, he's managed nearly 5 hours sleep, so his mood's not as black as his clothes. He'll head back out in tights when his shift is over. For now, he has another kind of job to do, barbacking and clearing tables (or else he can't afford being a vigilante). When the bartender's busy, he's allowed to step in, and you never know who comes into the Ascendant. He might learn something. ]
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Yeah, jerks didn't mention the damn MOBS that didn't like people like her. Good thing Abigail hadn't appeared here, and that she was pretty good with slipping away from jerks and punks. Though yeah, she wished she had her butterfly knife on her. Washington would be so disappointed with her for not having it on her at all times. What's the good of all of those self-defense lessons when you forget to stay armed? Really, Abby, bad choice.
So, in the light of all of the messes going on, Abigail fell back on the instincts of her street days. Which said 'find somewhere to hide'. And, from the outside, this place had looked perfect. It almost, but didn't quite remind her of old buildings she used to hide in back home. Granted this wasn't a warehouse, but no way she was going to be on the streets long enough to sneak into an appropriate area for that. People were just fucking crazy right now.
So she'd slipped in not long ago, and really, hadn't been moved to leave yet. No one was carding her, she wasn't asking for alcohol, and except for the music, it was pretty chill in here. But a girl had to refill her glass and so she abandoned her place by the pool table watching people play, put her helmet down on the bar, and smiled at the guy behind it. Old instincts said 'try and con the dude out of a drink'. Current instincts said 'that will get you kicked out to all the mean people outside, sooooo total skip.]
Heeeeey man, could I get another glass of water? Oh, and seriously, do you know a way to remove that song from the play list options? Because wow, people are just butchering it over and over. We need something cheery.
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Water he'll do, with ice and he'll even skewer a trio of maraschino cherries and balance it across the top of the glass. He's the one that has to prep all the garnishes and keep the supply on the bar topped off, anyway. ]
One water.
[ He neatly slides the glass over to her and gives the suggestion a grin. ]
Are you a mind-reader? I was thinking the same thing, but decided it's a slippery slope. First I pull "It's the End of the World As We Know It", then "Miami 2017", then "4 Minutes". Where does it stop? How long until they rename the bar "Tim's Eclectic, But Highly Curated, Karaoke"?
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But the cherries get the widest grin and she tips them down into the water to let them soak and lightly flavor it. Note to self, lift some money from someone not tipping the guy enough so she can tip him.]
Mind reader? Wait is that a literal thing? Wow super weird. Still, I think curation is probably a good idea. Because you are the one that needs to stay sane, right? Besides, that is a good name. Better than something like 'Eagle and Asp' or 'Ascendant'. Gives you a better flee for what a place os actually about.
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Tim won’t call attention to it, but he’ll poke around to try to grasp how rough it. ]
Yeah, it’s a literal thing. You not from around here, or just don’t follow the news much? Anima has animal telepathy, you know, and I think some of the other superheroes have telepathy that works on humans. I’m trying to read the paper cover to cover everyday. I figure people expect bartenders to know everything.
[ He gives her a mock serious face. Tim works here. He can’t insult the place or its clientele too hard. ]
I think Ascendant’s a great name for a bar. It tells you absolutely nothing about what’s on the inside, so your friends can’t run away screaming at the first sign of karaoke.
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Well, I don't expect bartenders to know everything. Like, there is Church, I heard about him. Apparently his siblings were going to the bar he worked at regularly and he didn't even know it until a LOT later. Because you know, super sappy 'separated when you're young' weird shit that went on with that family.
But yeah, I'm new here. I'm from Gulch. Which probably doesn't exist yet. Everything here is SO old fashioned.
[Though she chuckles at the idea of people running from karaoke.]
Do people not like singing? That's silly. It's lots of fun. I understand it's supposed to be more fun if you've been drinking.
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[ He considers the name. Surname? Supername? Tim’s not sure; while the big names with the guild are known, the new arrivals don’t match in and proclaim themselves with a full bio sheet.
And Church isn’t an uncommon last name. ]
I don’t think I know anyone named Church.
[ He also hasn’t heard of Gulch, but that’s incidental. He draws the line at pulling out his phone to Google people’s hometowns mid-conversation. Only because they’d object, but, hey. Tim can wait. ]
Old-fashioned? Look, just because Central City’s not as shiny as Excelsior doesn’t mean that this is some flyover backwater. This is one of the biggest cities in the country.
[ The role of proud townie will be played today by Tim Drake. ]
We just don’t have the best karaoke singers, if you catch my drift.
[ He nods towards the stage area, where a rather inebriated fellow is about to take his third turn on the mic, and whispers conspiratorially. ]
His first two numbers have been off key Trooper songs. You feeling lucky about what’s about to happen?
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If this is one of the oldest cities in the country, then Gulch definitely doesn't exist yet. So totes old-fashioned. Like, do you guys even go to space yet?
[The people aren't bad. The music isn't good, duh.]
Ummmm no. Definitely not feeling lucky.
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At least the Alliance had sent her out to Sunset Falls to monitor the situation and corral new arrivals. The org seemed to think her better equipped to handle magical nonsense than violent mobs, and she was in no mood to protest. Plus she had gone an entire casual trip out and NOT gotten sucked into a hellmouth, which was evidently a "good sign". It was only their good fortune that Mayuko was used to that level of weirdness, for better or worse.
She reaches down to rub her companion's oh-so-floppy ears before she takes a long pull at her beer mug. Cooking wasn't going to happen tonight, sticking around the Diadem and getting room service wasn't going to cut it. And the Ascendant had a good menu to go along with the drinks. She had plenty of familiarity with the izakaya back home to judge.
Although she might need another beer soon.]
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[ Tim is clearing a nearby table when he sees the dog that's come into the bar. Sparky doesn't look like a support animal, hm. Are dogs allowed in the Ascendant? Tim's not sure - he'll ask Kai if he sees him, but until then...
He drops his voice to a polite whisper. ]
Just as a warning, I'm not sure how pet-friendly the place is. It doesn't come up often, but I'm not going to ask you two to leave unless the boss says so.
[ He's not threatening her, but Tim wants to give her the heads up of what might happen. After he's done clearing the other table, he wipes his hands on a clean towel and turns to her table. ]
Want another, or something else?
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But she's here now. With Jun settled under the table over a chew toy, it would be foolish to pick up now and try another eatery. Plus it's just a kid doing his job. Better to play it safe with an appetizer and get out. By the time Tim comes back to take her order, her face has gone back to neutral.]
Yes, I'll have the sliders, and another beer when those're ready.
apologies I wasn't sure that they were allowed
[ Tim writes it down, mainly because he has quickly learned that people don't trust waitstaff when they say they have a good memory. ]
It shouldn't take long - I'll try to get it back to you before someone plays R.E.M. Again.
[ Sliders are quick, and Tim's back with the plate, cup, and an unexpected paper cup as well, setting all three in front of her. ]
I'm pretty sure the kitchen things I'm losing my mind, but I brought a puppuchino for your lil buddy.
np, np!
Oh! That's very kind, thank you. She's really starting to love these....
[Mayuko leans down with the paper cup, and the puppy abandons that chew toy SO FAST to stick her snout all the way in, tail wagging like mad.]
Looks like it gets the Jun Seal of Approval!
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I don't think I've seen a dog that doesn't. Or that doesn't like food in general. Can I pet her?
[ Tim crouches down to get a better look at the pup, but he doesn't reach for the dog before getting permission. ]
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[Mayuko moves the cup from under the table to lure Jun into more light.
The puppy is about a foot and a half tall, and reddish-brown all over. The telltale Rhodesian ridge of hair runs down her back. Noticing a NEW FRIEND, she plants her large paws on Tim and stretches with a whuffle, cream still speckling her muzzle.]
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[ He will absolutely give her a good long scritchy pet. Tim's not an excessive dog person, but a cute dog will bring this reaction out in anyone who's even moderately a dog person. ]
Rhodesian ridgeback?
[ You have to know what kind of dog is which - helps with identification in crowds and knowing the difference between a stereotypically derpy breed and a guarding breed is important. ]
They're sort of a jack of all trades, aren't they? You're a jack of all trades, and I have to wash my hands and find a new shirt before I go in the kitchen.
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That's right-- she was a stray, so I don't know her exact parentage. But as long as she's healthy, that's all that matters. As for what they do... they are hunting hounds, with a strong drive to guard. But they can probably do a little of everything, yes.
Do you have any pets?
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[ Jun gets a few more pets, and Tim stands up again, brushing his hands on his jeans. ]
I think it's great that you rescued her. It's probably better that she doesn't have "known" parentage. Don't a lot of purebreds have health issues?
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[In addition to bringing twelve bunnies of his own to the cabin, Momiji had enjoyed being around both Jun and Mayuko's cat. Even if it put himself at risk if he ever transformed, he had cared for them. The pang of homesickness, awakened from the cracks in the sky, intensifies. But she recognizes the feeling, and her expression fades for only a moment.]
To be honest, I couldn't have expected I'd be adopting a dog that day. There were usually events around kitten season, but that was the first time I had seen puppies available. Then she just trotted over, sat on my foot and the rest is history.
[Jun takes the puppuccino cup with her as she flops on Mayuko's feet, illustrating the point.]
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[ But Tim's laughing, so he's clearly not that annoyed by it. He doesn't think Damian would appreciate being a fur parent, either, but Tim sees no reason to tell the big version of his little brother that's running around this universe. ]
You couldn't see yourself adopting a dog, but you accidentally wound up somewhere that there would be adoptable animals?
[ Accidentally. ]
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[There were stranger things to be met out there, but Mayuko's filter hasn't dropped that far. LET'S NOT SCARE THE NICE BOY]
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Is this here?? The breakfasting gorillas and the psychic toucans? I hope you mean that they took you out to breakfast. Not that they tried t o have you for breakfast.
[ Scared isn't the right word. He's Concerned. Particularly because it's not exactly unlike something that Gorilla Grodd would do, maybe. Grodd wouldn't drag off a normal person, but he would kidnap someone and give them a meal while he telepathically took control of them. He has manners. ]
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NO, not here! That was all part of... another place, another world. I was there for years and we definitely didn't hear about... metahuman things going on out in the world. And I haven't heard anything that suggests that place is here, so. Separate worlds.
And yes, the gorillas' job in the morning was to haul people to the Mess Hall so that the staff could stow the breakfast things before the lunch crowds showed, not to eat people.