TEST DRIVE MEME: At the Mall

[theearth]

THE MALL
It's where all the cool kids hang out and you can be a cool kid too.

How it Works
Due to the nature of Save the Earth, it's a more complicated process to play in than most other games. With this in mind, it can't hurt to experiment a little.

Post your character and in the comment share a few details regarding their reincarnation. Repeat if you have multiple ideas you want to try out, as many as you like. It's also suggested that you set a scene and there's a few prompts below to help there, but think outside the box if you like. Then tag around to other threads and help your fellow prospective players to test out their characters and the variations on them. Don't be afraid to presume a little CR to make a scene flow more freely, or to assume an Echo or two.

If you have an app, complete or in progress, you might want to link it.

Prompts

Chilling
There's no particular goal in mind to being here, but it's a nice place to sit around.
Browsing
The mall is made for shopping and that's just what you'll do.
Working
The place doesn't run on wishes, but takes hard work.
The Movies
There are other things to do in the mall besides shop. Are you there with a friend or are you that one guy who won't shut up?
Crime Pays
$59.99 for Call of Duty? Time for the five finger discount. Or think bigger.
Alien Invasion
The Martians* are attacking! They want our brains/world/women/hot dogs. Take these freaks out, or cower in terror.
Stake Out In
Mysterious goings on have made it seem suspicious goings on are occurring after hours at the mall. Someone is investigating, but are you with a partner or are you the mysterious thing yourself?
Meeting with Witnesses
Tensions are high and you don't trust the person you're meeting not to try something dangerous unless it's in public.
Taking Shelter
One of the dangerous foes to mankind has caused a gigantic blizzard. Its been days since it began and... now what?

*Martians are not actual Save the Earth villains.

Comments

[comparative_insanity]

[He responds with a low titter, enjoying the closeness and taking advantage of it to steal another kiss, this one on the lips just for good measure.]

Well, I thought I could give him something to really be pissy about, you know?

[He grins, grabbing Kurogane's shirt and towing him along the rest of the way to the changing rooms, and sending him towards an empty cubicle with a light shove.]

Try the boring black ones first, I'll be there in a couple of minutes.

[earnedmystripes]

[ooc: No app, currently, but pre-incarnation info can be found here. Basic gist: preincarnation self was a superhero, reincarnation self is a troubled-youth-turned-cop. First echo: The scene with Ben where he tells Kotetsu that TopMag has been bought out and he'll be working for Alexander Lloyds of Apollon Media now, along with the phrase "I'll always be a fan of Wild Tiger, got it?"]

[Browsing]

[Why is there a clearly middle-aged man staring down an aisle of brightly-colored (read: pink) stuffed unicorns, ponies, and teddybears, you might ask?

...The answer is perhaps a little less mundane than one might expect: He's simply a clueless father, looking for a suitable gift for his eleven-year-old daughter for her upcoming birthday.

And mundane is certainly the kind of distraction he could use about now, after that bizarre....whatever-it-was back at the station the other day. Something about companies and Heroes and the name Wild Tiger, which he couldn't shake the feeling was supposed to be his--the kind of thing he'd read in comic books and watched movies about when he'd been a kid. Kotetsu's first thought had been that someone had spiked his coffee as a prank, but there'd been that number that stuck around in his head and the random message-board thing that'd appeared on his napkin when he'd distractedly scribbled the number there during lunch...

It was all ridiculous. And at least for today, he was going to pretend none of it had ever happened. Everything's as normal, dammit.]

They sure give these things weird names, nowadays....[Picking one up and eyeing it with great oyaji judgment] Lady Twinklypuffkins? Really?

[Putting it back on the shelf....and for some reason even he can't quite name, shying away from the neon pink teddy bears next to it.]

[comparative_insanity]

Sorry, honey, I've got work tonight.

[And approaching is a young man clearly having an argument - or rather trying to placate the arguing party - over the phone.]

Look, we've only been on a couple of dates, sweetie, isn't it a bit silly to be jealous of-

[Apparently he was hung up on, because he sighs and gives his phone an irate look before stuffing it in his pocket, muttering something about "never seeing you again". He shakes his head with a sigh and then joins the other man looking at the stuffed toys. He apparently overheard his comment despite his phone call, because he smirks and holds up another pony.]

Does Princess Sparklerosy appeal more?

[earnedmystripes]

[Still locked in the great debate of What To Buy Your Preteen Daughter, Kotetsu catches the tail end of the younger man's conversation, grinning a little to himself at the nostalgia it brings up.

Not that he's really ever had a similar experience--he's one of those rare special snowflakes that actually does find love at first sight, whose "first love" is their only love, really, because it's a sensation that's never been duplicated.

(He still wears his ring, even though it's been seven years since she passed.)

But it's familiar enough, from his high school days. Antonio was often griping about girl troubles, after all. Still, it's none of his business, and Kotetsu fully intends to let the stranger pass without a word when he realizes he's being addressed. And...just eyes that pony because good lord, were those glitter-filled tie-dye roses on its back. And how the toy company even managed to get so many braids into that mane he doesn't even want to know.]

...Geez, whatever happened to the simple names like..."Fluffy", or "Biscuit"?

[He has no idea if there were ever toy ponies called by those names, okay, but he's pretty sure these toys didn't always have names that were nearly as long as his own in full.

...That's when he notices the name badge on Fay's shirt, and he realizes he should perhaps ask help because he is clearly in over his head here.]

Oi, if you're not too busy, could you help an old man out for a sec?

[Not that he's that old, but. He has been on the police force for nearly twelve years, and some of his younger co-workers like to give him shit about it sometimes.]

I'm looking for a birthday gift for my kid. D'you uh, think a soon-to-be eleven-year-old would be into this kinda stuff, or would she've outgrown it by now?

[comparative_insanity]

[Fay blinks a bit in surprise and his eyes follow the other man's to the name badge on his chest. And then he laughs, a full and gently amused sound.]

I ain't actually working here, sugar, that's my whatchmadoodle from the coffee shop, but sure I can help you out.

[He returns the pony to the shelf, smiling.]

And trust me, of I'd've gotten a stuffed toy when I was eleven, I would've pitched a right fit.

[espigeonage]

[The app!]

A feather had appeared that morning on Julien's pillow. It was pure white and as long as his forearm, hard and structured along most of the shaft, soft and fuzzy near the base. Humming, he played with it as he went through the mall. All good school-aged boys and girls were in class at this hour, so it wasn't hopelessly crowded, at least.

...but it looked like his favorite baby supply store was closed. Julien sighed. "That's a tragedy, there."

[formermagicalgirl]

[App here. Also, still working on correct icons, so her hair will be shorter than it shows in the icons and she'll be wearing a more normal dress.]

[A girl is sitting in the food court. It looks like she just finished eating and there's also a few bags sitting on her table. She has a rather nice smartphone out and seems to be playing a game on it.

She doesn't seem too happy though, she's probably losing in the game. Actually, she's downright horrible at it, but there's nothing else to do while eating, she already checked the forums she tends to go to and nothing of interest there.]

[wordsgate]

[Sasame's grabbing himself a burger after a long day of clothes shopping when a familiar face catches his eye. Hey, that's one of the girls he knows from school, isn't it? One of them with a number?

He settles down a few tables away from her. He's been wanting to get to know her better for a while now but hasn't found a good excuse yet...but he was hoping to organize a "getting to know each other" meeting at his place, so...

He pulls out his smartphone and sends a message to her number. She's already using her phone so she's bound to see it, right?]

Hey Tamara! fancy seeing you here. on your left!

[and if she looks over, he's planning on waving and giving her a smile.]

[formermagicalgirl]

[Oh yes, she sees it and that just made her loss a for sure thing. And on the first level at that. Why must she be so bad at this game when she's good at everything else related to computers and phones?

She quickly exits out of the game, though if one were to be honest, she's ragequitting it. She hesitantly looks over, because she knows very well that among those who have a number is one of her victims. Please let it not be him.

Damn it. She really just has no idea how to react to him because he seems nice enough, but what she was told implies he isn't. And she definitely doesn't trust her own judgement when it comes to being attracted to a guy.]

You made me lose the game I was playing so this had better be something good.

[wordsgate]

[Heeeey guess who's completely oblivious to her distrust of him? This guy! Because girls like him, right?]

oh, whoops, sorry. But I hope it'll be worth it!

I was thinking of trying to have a get together at my place for those of us with numbers. Maybe with some karaoke. Would you like to come? You wouldn't have to sing or anything if you don't want to. But it might be nice to get to know everyone better.

[formermagicalgirl]

[Distrust is putting her feelings quite mildly. There's that, plus confusion and the fact that in her mind he's the scum of the earth and if she's too nice he'll do the same to her.

No, must put him off somehow. Schoolwork, that always works! She'd say no anyhow because she's not into the idea of parties. Especially not with people she barely knows and especially not at his place.]

I'll be busy. I have a lot of work to do for classes.

[Never mind that he hasn't given a date, time, and she's here goofing off. Yeah, such an obvious lie there even to the oblivious.]

[wordsgate]

Aw. homework's a bitch, isn't it? but are you sure you can't stop by for at least an hour or two? I can try not to schedule it nearby any major tests or due dates for anyone. i haven't nailed down a date or anything.

[formermagicalgirl]

[Figures that the obvious lie would be spotted and he'd push her. If it were anyone else asking, she'd consider a short time.]

I'd prefer not. Even if I wasn't busy, I barely know you and see no need to change that fact.

[And if he's looking over in her direction, she's getting up and taking her tray to a trashcan and definitely appears to be leaving the food court area to either finish her shopping or go back to her dorm.]

[wordsgate]

[He's not paying attention to his phone when she gets up, so he sees her leave first. When she does, there's a weird pain in his chest. For some reason, he really wants to get up and chase after her. He can't bear to see her leave.

But he knows that stalking her around the mall would probably make the leap from "friendly" to "creepy" really, really fast, so he just stays seated and looks down at his phone. That's when he sees her message. Now he feels even worse.

Why does this matter so much to him? He knows he can't please everyone, and he can live with some people not liking him, so...why her?]

That's fair i guess. but even if you don't want to get to know me, you should probably try to get to know others on the Network? whatever is going on, it feels big, and I think it's best if we work together.

[formermagicalgirl]

[Of course little does he know that he's already in the "creepy" category to her. Yet the more he talks to her, the more she wonders if the girl who hired her services was wrong about him, or they just were not suited for each other and she couldn't accept it.

But she can't take that risk. She's made a fresh start in a new place and she doesn't want to just be used and thrown away again when no longer needed. Not until she's given a reason to believe otherwise.

She just doesn't understand why she wants him to prove otherwise. She's had no problem turning guys down before and walking away as if nothing had happened. Now she feels bad for being so cruel.]

I have no issue with that as long as it doesn't interfere with my studies. I'm on a scholarship and cannot afford to lose that.

[And now she spots a really lovely dress in the window of a store nearby and walks in. Definitely must try that one on. At least she's not mentioning that fact for Sasame to think about her taking her clothes off in the fitting room.]

[weathermetaphors]

[ooc: No app currently, but the gist is that he was a (likely-framed) death-row prisoner in a privately owned prison in Japan that doubled as a carnival and was a front for housing gladiatorial-style matches between Deadmen, those who were infested with a machine called the Nameless Worm, which gave them the power to control their blood and use it to fight. Yeah, Deadman Wonderland is a fucked-up canon, rofl. In his reincarnation life he's a simple meteorology professor at LCU. First echo is the scar on his throat from when his vocal chords were removed--just the scar, though, his voice is still intact.]

[Chilling/Browsing]

[It's perhaps a touch too warm today to really necessitate a scarf, but not enough so to be uncomfortable. Which is very much a good thing, in Nagi's opinion, because he has no idea how to feel about the scar that suddenly appeared on his throat after that minor earthquake a week ago, and he doesn't have an appropriate cover story yet, should one of his students happen to see it and question him. At least the scarf he could explain as feeling somewhat under the weather recently.

Fortunately, he's yet to run into anyone he recognizes, and passerby for the most part have ignored him or stared for a moment before moving on. Some people wore tank tops in the winter after all--it wasn't any more crazy than that.

Don't mind him, he'll just be hanging out by this table of owl-themed paraphernalia, chatting up the workers as they come and go.]

[copyrightnoble]

[occ: no app, mostly seeing if the idea works out for the moment! Basically, she travelled with an alien until a crisis came along, and her memories had to be wiped in order to keep her mind from frying out. In her post reincarnation, she has a slightly better life (happier at least) as a translator. Most likely I'd have to work out some kinks if I app her in!]

Chilling

[Sometimes, it's nice just to people watch and see what people are doing. Sure, she bought a newspaper, but she wasn't reading it in the least. She had her coffee, her lunch, and...everything seemed nice. Peaceful.

It was nice. It really was. It was a beautiful day.]

[miata]

[occ: No app in process yet, but! Should she be brought in, this traumized warrior from Claymore would be brought in as a fairly quiet but normal youth. But she gained her first echo when she witnessed a bloody and fatal accident.]

Crime Pays

[She forgot her wallet at home, and she really wanted to get a coffee. She's so cold, and well...there is a wad of cash. She just found it on the ground, she really did! It's okay to get something like that, right?

...she'll do something nice with the rest of it. Really, she will.]

Browsing

[There's some wonderful music selections here and they're delightful. And this place allows samples! Which to choose first...it's so hard to choose.]

[miata]

It just means no one in the marketing department knows how to name things properly.

[She's normally as quiet as can be, but seeing this man and his hopeless search...it's like trying to throw a life preserver out to sea. Clearly he has no taste, and a young person like herself can direct him to a much better area.]

Which means that their marketing is for a very young audience, maybe with the promotion of girls should like pink and cute things.

[She blinks slowly, and looks up at him.]

Are you just looking? Or really trying to find something?

[miata]

She's young, she's studious and she's rather quiet. But she has been looking for some cute key chain charms for her cell phone, and there's a couple on the tables...they look adorable. Cute little owls!

But there's this fellow in the way.]

'cuse me.

[She really wants a good look at the key chains.]

[shut_up_idiot]

[ Even though it's a bit embarrassing to be so openly affectionate in public Youou still hums contentedly into the kiss. ]

Well, aren't you my hero.

[ He shakes his head but lets Fay manhandle him around and obediently tries on the black clothes first, picking out the ones he wants to buy, before trying on the green shirt with a small shake of his head. He was acting just like his father, wasn't he. Always giving in.

Then he sticks his head out to see if Fay's come back yet, he has a feeling the blond isn't going to let him out of here without an inspection. ]