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Entry tags:
TDM 002
| TDM 002: IF FOUND PLEASE RETURN TO |
( 1 ) Around mid-morning, a message from the Augur appears on bracelets all across the city. "New organisms discovered. Domestication in progress."  The wark of a chocobo rises up from the outskirts of the city. Several more join in, forming a charming chorus. And, strangely, this is when new arrivals begin to show up. Beamed in one at a time, scanned en masse, they are processed just as the first wave was. There's one major difference: whereas the old guard was given their bracelets and ushered into the City, the new folks are also given... collars. Buckled, snapped, or otherwise fastened around their necks, a variety of colorful collars with some rather unusual novelty pet tags. (These are just a few suggestions. The typical “If found, please return to ____” is also very much acceptable.)  "You are new organisms. Domestication in progress. Compatible Eros energy will complete domestication." No matter how hard they try, characters cannot take the collars off by themselves. They need a partner's help - but not just anyone will do. It very well might be the first person they find, or it might take several tries. The robots grow bolder as the day grows on, targeting characters who aren't new, as well. "Y̶o̶u̴ ̸a̷r̸e̷ ̵o̵r̵g̶a̴n̷i̷s̶m̸s̶.̶ ̶D̷o̶m̴e̴s̶t̶i̶c̵a̸t̶i̸o̴n̸ ̷i̵n̸ ̴p̸r̶o̵g̷r̵e̷s̵s̷." Their antics die down by nightfall, but for the next day or two, the occasional malfunctioning 'bot may accost someone in the street, so stay on your toes!  ( 2 ) An abandoned racetrack lights up the night. That's right: place your bets, folks, because these birds are about to run around a track while robots sell synthetic, overpriced aphro-popcorn. ...Did you say priced? That’s right! If you participated in the orgy earlier this month, you'll find you have a stash of credits accessible in your app. You've fucked money back into the world, so why not waste it? (Opportunities to earn credits will come up periodically and won't always be sexual in nature, so don't worry if your character wouldn't have any yet.) And if you don't have credits to bet with, why not get creative? N A V I G A T I O N |
no subject
he breathes out a laugh at his question, an amused smile spreading across sharp features. ]
I don't need to use this [ he yanks at the collar with one finger. ] to get laid. If I wanted to fuck, there are better ways to approach someone. [ he isn't the type to play coy or beat around the bush, straightforward and unabashed. ]
How sleazy of a guy do you think I am? [ RHETORICAL. ]
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I don't know. Do you have a heart?
[ He's not going to understand that, even if Axel can appreciate the morbidity of his own humor, so he pushes on right away before Reno can answer. ]
So is that your plan? Work your way through the whole town until something changes? You know doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity.
[ He's paraphrasing but, whatever. ]
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I said I'd give it another try. Didn't say I was gonna keep going at it, yo. [ he isn't that big of a moron. ] And it's not like I'm putting all my eggs into one basket here. I'm gonna test out other methods too.
[ he narrows his eyes at him and his shitty collar. ]
Anyway, [ he holds up his wrist to show the bracelet wrapped around it. ] we still got this piece of shit device, remember? Even if I don't get it off on the next try, I can at least take care of another box. Ain't all for nothing then. But you— [ he arches a brow right back at him. ] Don't tell me you're just gonna leave that on forever.
no subject
[ Is he subtly maybe calling Reno a coward? Yes. Yes he is. But figuring that this isn't going to change Reno's mind right now, he lets it slide. Axel spreads his arms, like he's showing himself off. ]
It kind of matches my outfit, don't you think?
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ain't even gonna humor him with a reply to that. ]
It does, [ his smile widens pleasantly. ] but it'd look way better with a leash on it. [ :) ]
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No offense, but I don't think you'd have it in you. I don't just answer to any shmuck off the street barking orders.
[ He raises his hand and twirls his finger. ]
That little teleporting trick was pretty neat, though.
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he didn't expect the guy to take it like that. ] Did I say I wanted to put one on you? [ the 'shmuck' is a nice touch though. not the worst thing he's been called. it's almost cute. ] Naughty mind. [ he taps the side of his temple with one finger. ] But I ain't lookin' to recruit right now.
[ his brows raise in bemusement. teleportation, huh? ]
Thanks. [ as if he's gonna explain it to him. ] It comes in handy.
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It was all over your face.
[ Which, seriously, it's still really weird. If they stood next to each other someone could really easily mistake them for brothers, or twins, despite the subtle differences. He almost wants to drag Reno over to the nearest reflective surface just to satiate his own curiousity.
Back to that other thing. He knows it wasn't really teleporting so much as — what was it Riku called it? Shadow stepping? Axel had never mastered that particular ability. But the ozone left behind wasn't quite the same, so teleporting it is. Regardless, it's enough to pique Axel's competitive energy and he smiles like a cat. ]
Let's play sometime, Reno. I'd like to know what else you've got up your sleeve.
[ But then, just as suddenly as that cunning look had appeared, his expression shifts and his eyes brighten like he's just got an idea. ]
Oh! Do you know how to pick a lock?
no subject
maybe it's a little strange considering the facial similarities between them, but the idea honestly doesn't repulse him. ]
'Play.' [ he drawls out the word, eyeing him keenly. ] I'm pretty sure our definition of what we consider fun and what qualifies as play don't align. [ he's competitive in an entirely different way. ] But sure, I'll see what I can do.
[ is the guy gonna ask him to try and pick his collar? ]
Yea, I do. [ a beat. ] But I've got nothin' on me to pick one.
no subject
Regardless, Reno's response makes him light up. Finally! ]
Okay, well, what do you need? Let's go find it.
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I need sumthin' thin like a paperclip or a bobby pin.
[ wait for it. ]
But I don't remember agreeing to help you out, yo.
no subject
[ Aside from continuing to molest people on the street to see if they can cut his collar off. ]
And I didn't say I'd ask you to do it for free.
no subject
Okay, so what's in it for me?
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I'll owe you one.
[ But that tone drops out as Axel stands tall, gesturing with one hand, replaced with something a little more serious. ]
And I get the feeling we both know how much that could be worth.
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You've got a deal, yo. [ he splays out his left hand. ] But we still have to find a pick first, unless you've got sumthin' we can use.
no subject
[ Is he joking? It's actually really difficult to tell. Axel steps forward, then, reaching out to take Reno by his bicep to encourage him to follow along. ]
Let's take a look around. There's probably some crap laying around we can use.
[ This place looked like it had seen better days, but that also meant there were a lot of scraps in places that were just begging to be turned over. It would be like a treasure hunt! Who doesn't love looking for loot? ]
no subject
Maybe we can whittle down a stick. [ it's a joke. ] Better yet, we can just destroy one of those robots. They might have sumthin' inside of 'em we can use. [ why go on a futile hunt when there are plenty of sexbots around? ]
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[ His gaze slides around, looking for one of the robots. Axel can't help feeling a little bad about the idea... while they might not be the natives of this place at least some of them have some kind of sentience.
Of course not all of them are people-like, and Axel is something of an opportunist. ]
Maybe one of those little ones.
[ The ones that look like glorified security cameras, which he points at. ]
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he would be back at midgar with everyone, dealing with the mess left behind by that fake first class asshole. totally preferable at this point.
with a target picked out, he approaches the tiny machine, bending down to scoop it up with one hand. the camera zooms to face him. amicably, he smiles into it before he rears his arm back and swings the recorder on wheels swiftly into the hard brick wall of a nearby building. it splits into pieces on contact, scattering shards of metal on the pavement. wordlessly, he walks toward the debris, crouching down to begin looking for a spring or wire he could use. ]
Got it, yo! [ he holds up a sturdy looking strand of metal. ] Let's give this baby a whirl. [ standing up, he motions for the other redhead to come over. ]
no subject
Axel whistles and gives him a slow clap that somehow it doesn't come across as sarcastic. Maybe it's the cheeky smile on his face and the way he saunters over to close the distance between them again. ]
Nice arm! I bet you'd be killer at frisbee.
[ Which, he loves, for the record. He stops well within Reno's personal space and lifts his chin, exposing his throat, green eyes bright under his eyelashes as he keeps looking down. ]
no subject
[ does he look like he's seven here? whatever. ]
Hold still. [ hooking his finger through the black collar, he leans forward as he inserts the metal into the lock. he tweaks at it for a couple of seconds before he hears an audible click. well well well, lookit that. ] Ha. [ take that, ya fuckin' collar. ]
Worked like a freakin' charm. [ he looks pretty pleased with himself as he straightens back up. ] Try to take it off now, yo.