Priority Log - Part 1

[locomodo]

Log 05 Priority (Part I)
Have you all been enjoying your weeks at the spa and/or getting chased by dinosaurs? Well, it's time to get a move on! The next car awaits: it's time for a new priority car. Like last time, passengers will not be able to leave this car for two logs, so buckle in!

The Big Screen Car

As characters enter the car, their phones will send them a new notification...

> OBJECTIVE:

>
>

NAME: The Big Screen Car
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT: Earth-ish, 2021
DANGER LEVEL: [ERROR]
AVERAGE CRITIC REVIEW: 5/5 Stars
COMMON DENIZENS: Varied
CUISINE: Overpriced gluten-sensitive sandwiches, overpriced coffee

...What a weird spam text? There's a lot of those going around lately.

Well, time to get to work!

Passengers will arrive in this car believing that they've lived in this car their entire lives. Effectively a modern AU version of themselves, they will have no knowledge of their powers, their past, or any details about their original worlds. Instead, they will believe they grew up in the modern day, that this is a place called DANACA, and that they work with an entertainment management company, FONY, in some capacity.




Maybe that makes you a director, producer, agent, model, singer, actor, idol, musician, sound guy, make-up artist, e-sports hotshot, lighting tech, beleaguered script writer, overworked intern, some dude who delivers sandwiches and ends up as an extra all the time... As a media giant, FONY has it all! And you're expected to work together on a litany of up and coming projects: the FAMA Awards Show, which will preview several hotly anticipated albums, shows, events, and movies! And that means all hands on deck. Characters will have very little problem with their AU skills, even if they never had any relevant experience in canon.

LOCATIONS

When characters get a breather, the car around them is a busy metropolis city with warm, dry weather that welcomes several beaches and pools. (It's literally LA, but with public transpo.) Enjoy all the modern amenities, like you've never lived without them! Passengers can visit any location that makes sense for a modern city, but here are some hotspots:

Club L'Euntaerio: The hottest club in Danaca! They keep the temperature uncomfortably low as they play only Danacan artists, like The Tragically Lame, or Dreka. Regardless, the night life here is vibrant, so it's a great place to let loose a little.

CN Corner: Not a destination so much as the corner beside Club L'Euntaerio, unofficially known to be the place to make illicit connections. Shady dealings happen here all the time, so it's a great place for designer drugs, information on your enemies, and alley-way shankings.

One drug in particular is on the rise. Sand, which provides Denizens with a mild high, will cause passengers to see people as other other characters from their canon. Even if you're not a fan of drugs, it's called Sand for a reason: it gets in everything (e.g. drinks, gummies, cigarettes, etc).

The New Danaca Mall: A newly renovated mall with three floors of your favorite retail outlets like Danaca Moose and Aboots! The employees are all fed up though, and you may end up hired on the spot for a part-time gig, or to hand out samples and promo materials because you're famous. If you manage to avoid retail hell, maybe you can just grab some boba and a pretzel and chill out with your friends.

Zoo: A zoo and garden with all kinds of strange, interesting creatures! You have your stock tigers, lizards, etc... as well as the odd addition from your home worlds. Trying to remember where you recognize these creatures will give you a headache though, so relax and enjoy your time here!

There is also a particularly troublesome goat here that will try to eat your things, or follow you home.

NOTABLE DENIZENS

Denizens vary from your stock humans to aliens and sentient animals. No one really seems to bat an eye at this — it's simply life in Danaca, where people from all walks of life have ended up. Here are some notable denizens that players are welcome to use at their convenience:

Mister Beaton: Beaton is one of FONY's attorneys, and one slip-up away from being arrested for embezzlement. He only works on full moons, but when he does, he often plants suspicious wads of cash on people, leaving them to be chased by FONY's security dogs in his stead.

Eliza Faulkner: The daughter of the CFO's newest wife, who hates everything and thinks the media is overrated. She dresses in sustainably sourced, hand stitched Amish clothing, and often threatens employees into getting her food or other items by using her step-father's position at the company. She will also spread malicious rumours to cause problems, such as claiming that someone had an affair and is now pregnant. :)

Nettle Tale: A power-mom animal consultant at FONY, who sometimes will dump her charges on unsuspecting bystanders whenever parenthood calls. Her usual pets are an extremely amorous anaconda, and a miniature pony that will cry unless held like a baby, but she's known for leaving all kinds of creatures in unprepared hands!

Chad Chadsef: No matter how famous or successful you might be, the head of FONY entertainment, CEO Chad Chadsef, is a very busy person! In fact, you can't ever seem to get an appointment or spot them, no matter how you may try.

OTHER

It's like you've been here forever, but... sometimes, you wonder if that's really the case. Maybe it's a slip-up at work where you forget your lines, or a sense of ill-placed deja vu, or a reflection in the mirror that doesn't match what it should. Characters may experience glimpses of their real lives, but they will be joined by an unsettled agitation and chill. The longer they dwell on it, the colder and more disorienting it gets, until they finally pass out with a fever.

Opt-out: For a few, this 'new' life doesn't seem to take root. Players that would rather opt-out of playing an AU will have their characters wake up in bed, still surrounded by their AU life. However, they won't recognize any of it. Whether it's a call from your mom, a job as a singer you've never had, or the very world around you, you'll realize that it's all a fabrication of the car.

These characters will feel a slight chill all the time, despite the weather. The more attention they draw to themselves, and the more they try to enlighten others of the car mechanics, the colder it gets, as though the chill is physically gripping down on them. NPCs will start to stare blankly at them, and a sense of dread will settle in their stomachs. It may be wiser to try and play along until you know what's going on.




OOC Notes

• AU Plotting: Players are encouraged to AU their CR! Everyone can already know each other, whether in passing or more, so feel free to user our plotting post to collaborate on AU details. Consider also filling out your FONY employee profile in the comments for other players to reference!
  
  
• Powers: Characters may keep their powers or not, player's choice. Keep in mind that they will not cognitively be aware of their abilities, and may not know how to use or control them. Think of a "Spider-man discovering his powers for the first time" scenario.
  
  
• Transformations: The Halloween curses will no longer be effect this log. Non-human characters can opt to transform into humans, but it isn't required.
  
  
• Backstories: For ease of AU purposes, players can make up whatever countries they like, etc. Characters do not need to be from Danaca originally, but everyone should live a reasonable commute from work.
  
  
• Items: Characters' inventories will be in a trunk at the foot of their bed, though they may not remember what they are. All characters are allowed one free item from home.

Go wild with it, but feel free to reach out with any questions on Discord!

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Comments

[overruns]

[ It's really tempting to puke into the trash pile, but that would only make matters worse, wouldn't it? As they wriggle their way out into the fresh ('fresh') alley air, Dimitri tosses off a stray banana peel that'd somehow landed on his shoulder. The whole situation is... cartoonish.

It'd almost be funny if it weren't 1. disgusting, 2. the result of them getting chased by a bunch of incensed drug dealers. He scowls, which is undercut somewhat by the fact that his voice turns a little nasally from how hard he's trying not to breathe through his nose. ]

It was their fault to begin with.

[ He goes to poke his head out of the alley to check if they're still being tailed, gesturing to Claude when the coast is clear. ]

What are you doing out here, anyway?

[ As though Dimitri is not the one who's out of place. ]

[shaft]

[ There's something sticky on the inside of his arm, but he tries not to think about it as he heads over to Dimitri. It's still pretty noisy despite the late hour, traffic rushing by on the main roads, music from the nearby club, so he tries to focus his hearing for the heavy steps of their thugs.

... Though he has no idea how he's supposed to tell their footsteps from anyone else's. He's not a werewolf. ]

Keeping you out of trouble, apparently.

[ He fixes Dimitri with a frown, unsatisfied by his answer. ]

That could've gone really badly for you, you know.

[overruns]

[ They should be able to slip back into the main traffic of the streets and get out of here. Not like they can hit the clubs when the smell of garbage is permanently stuck to these clothes.

A little stubbornly, ]

...I would have been fine.

[ Actually, he either would've gotten his skull cracked, or some very bad press. And he's aware of that, but the threat of either wasn't enough to keep him in line. He's just lucky that Claude showed up when he did, and that he apparently cared enough to bail him out of a bad time; he shifts a little in place before looking back, brows furrowed. ]

They've been causing trouble for my family. I can't just stand by and let them say whatever they want.

[shaft]

[ That makes sense, considering how stubbornly devoted to his family Dimitri is. Enough so that he can be a little hot headed when he shouldn't be. ]

And you thought the best course of action was to confront them alone on their turf?

[ Kinda makes his jumping-into-garbage idea seem not so bad in comparison. He shakes his head, walking past Dimitri to the bigger alley, heading back to the club where his car is parked. ]

Come on. You can come over to mine and get cleaned up. [ He sounds fairly conversational about it. ] And then we can discuss how your next plan will be much smarter and better.

[overruns]

[ Personal rumors don't bother him—he doesn't need to put stock in idle prattle—but it's different when it's the people close to him. Whispers of his family's ties to crime, like their old heritage means they're connected to old secrets. It's unacceptable, especially with Athy's career in the works. Even if Claude is being reasonable, Dimitri clicks his tongue with the lingering dregs of his irritation when he's called out, adrenaline starting to wear down. ]

...Fine. [ Mostly because Claude isn't encouraging him to stand down completely. Just to be less of a dumbass about it. Maybe he's even offering to be an accomplice? Or at least a place to take a shower and get the trash stink off of him. ]

Do you live nearby? [ Dimitri commutes downtown—it's kind of loud and claustrophobic for him here. ] I'll drive.

[shaft]

[ Claude gives Dimitri a look, as if assessing whether or not he trusts him to drive his car. He might be a little buzzed, but he's not sure that Dimitri is entire sober either.

The car is parked outside Club L'Euntaerio, some fancy vehicle purchased with his parents' money. ]

It's about twenty minutes.

[ He stops to lean against the side of the car, gesturing Dimitri closer so that he can check his pupils. ]

Should I trust that you're in control of your faculties?

[overruns]

[ Right, Claude's father was some flashy cinema hotshot—makes sense that he'd have a car to match. Dimitri would be cautious over it too, in his shoes. Still, his voice is touched with exasperation as he leans in for inspection. ]

Really, Claude—do I seem the type to do Sand?

[ He's as sober as death, as usual. If Claude should distrust him over anything, it's the fact that he's never technically driven before. Not that they would know that right now. ]

I've never touched the stuff. Give me your keys, please.

[ They're close enough friends that the 'please' is very phoned in. ]

[shaft]

I don't doubt your ability to surprise me.

[ Since he's close enough, Claude rewards Dimitri's cooperation with a pinch to the cheek.

But he doesn't actually want to hang around smelling like garbage much longer, so he hands over the keys and off they go. They drive with the windows down so that the smell clinging to them isn't too unbearable. Claude spends most of the drive with his nose out the window, turning back inside only to give Dimitri directions.

Soon enough they're parking in the building garage and taking the elevator up. The building is nice and clean, and, when they step into his apartment, his unit is thankfully equipped with two bathrooms. ]

Bathroom's that way, I'll leave some clothes for you.

[overruns]

[ He's definitely more likely to beat up some drug dealers than actually give them any money, thank you. But for all his spitfire earlier, he just scrunches his nose when Claude pinches him, not even bothering to swat him away. It's not even that late and it feels like the night's gone on forever. They've been chased around and smell like actual garbage. It's a Friday night he wouldn't mind sleeping off entirely.

There's only a split-second moment where he's got the keys in the ignition and blanks on what to do with them, and then they're off.

The night's drive is actually just what he needs anyway: the windows vent the smell, the light stream past, and it's clarifying. Bright. It lets him collect himself and settle as he realizes he's going over to Claude's place for the first time. ]

Ah, thank you.

[ He tries to rein in his curiosity, but he finds himself sneaking a look around when they walk in anyway. ]

...Sorry for putting you out like this. You've done me too many favors for one night.

[shaft]

[ The apartment is clean and modern in design, though it would probably look much nicer without Claude's clutter: books and notes on the couch and tables in the living room, a handful of dishes in the sink, and in his room, a pile of laundry that he hadn't put away.

There aren't any pictures up on the walls, but a few decorations here and there. ]

Bathrooms are for showering in, so I don't know what you're apologizing for.

[ He doesn't even look back at Dimitri as he answers, heading to his room, and coming back with a soft shirt and sweatpants that he hands over to Dimitri. ]

Just stop stinking up the place already.

[ He looks pretty relaxed on the outside, but he's trying not to think too hard about how weird it is for Dimitri to come to his place for the first time, and immediately take a shower because he smells like garbage.

He tries very hard not to think about it the entire time he cleans himself up.

He ends up settled on the couch afterwards, a towel on his head and two cups of tea on the coffee table in front of him. ]

[overruns]

[ Chastised, he smiles for the first time tonight, looking a little abashed as he takes the clean clothes, graciously offered and accepted. ]

You'd better do the same.

[ It's extremely nice to get of his trash clothes, which will probably have to actually go into the garbage bin, and clean off. But now that everything's slowed down, there's a bit of awkwardness left to sneak in where adrenaline had filtered out—Claude probably would've liked the opportunity to be out at the club, or with someone he'd actually invited over.

But now they're sitting at a small coffee table, drinking tea at like 11PM. He ruffles a towel through his hair once more before letting it hang around his neck, speaking sincerely before he takes a sip of his tea. ]

Thank you, Claude.

[ As lame as it is, he doesn't think this is bad way to spend a Friday, sans the trash. ]

[shaft]

[ Assuming that Dimitri is sitting upright like a normal human being, Claude is probably sprawled on the couch like a disaster. One leg hanging off the couch with the other propped up on the coffee table, his mug held in place on his thigh with one hand, and his other arm thrown over the back of the couch.

Comfy. Natural. ]

You can repay me by acting smarter in the future. [ He frowns, looking serious despite his posture. ] That could've ended really badly for you, and what then?

[ He'd been distracted by adrenaline and alcohol before, and the burning need for a shower, but now that he's thinking about it, he's kind of mad. ]

Even if you didn't plan to get into a fight, you shouldn't wandered into a situation like that alone.

[overruns]

[ Claude does look very comfy. Imagine becoming one with the couch like that. Dimitri, royal backstory or not, maintains his impeccable posture, making the two of them look like a comedy duo as he hums in thought. ]

You're right. I'm sorry—it was foolhardy of me. It's... hard to think straight when people threaten something so close to me.

[ And he does sound genuinely sorry, but not so much that he'll promise never to do it again. Today was just a setback. But Claude isn't asking him to relinquish his drive altogether—he just wants him to not get shot.

Something about Claude having to chastise him about working alone is a little funny, though. He sets his tea in his lap for a moment, curiosity clearly piqued even if he should be acting remorseful. ]

Did I worry you?

[shaft]

It's very charming until it's not. [ Despite his words, Claude's voice is dry, and not charmed in the least.

Even if it is a little charming, it's also mostly exhausting.

He opens his mouth to answer Dimitri's question, but something about the entire situation feels suddenly unnatural. Instinct tells him to give Dimitri a confused look, and wonder why he would think that. He wants to laugh away the question, and steer the conversation elsewhere. Even though he's scolded Dimitri in the past for being careless. Even though he knows the value of honesty when it comes to maintaining relationships.

Still, it feels unnatural when he answers, voice growing softer as his gaze falls to his lap, ] Yeah, you're not the only one who cares about people.

[ Is this toxic masculinity raring its untimely head? ]

[overruns]

[ Oh. Claude's reaction blindsides him. He expects him to approach the question sideways, maybe steer away from it altogether—the sincerity of his response is... startling.

Except that it shouldn't be. They've had plenty of heart-to-hearts before, even if they were between shoots or after work at the least pretentious coffee shop in the square and not his apartment. It shouldn't shock him that Claude is worried. Of course he cares. He blinks away his wide-eyed surprise into a look of remorse. ]

...Sorry.

[ He goes quiet for a second, staring into his tea and reflecting on what an idiot he's been tonight before setting the mug back down on the coffee table. ]

First you had to take care of me when I was ill— [ ... ] injured the other day. [ On the set of that one gothic horror series, when he'd twisted his ankle after a staged fight. ] Now you've thrown yourself into a garbage heap to stop me from getting stabbed. I've been keeping you busy.

[ There's something unfamiliar with this dynamic: a partner in crime, a peer who'd rather see him safe than victorious. A friend. He reaches over to give Claude's forearm a squeeze. ] You're very kind, Claude. I don't think I tell you often enough that I'm lucky to have met you.

[shaft]

[ Claude's chest goes tight at that, even though he shouldn't. Because he's been friends with Dimitri for years, and he's always been earnest in his affections. He's used to the embarrassing things that he says, and the way that he cares fiercely about all the people in his life (tonight being a prime example).

This is nothing new, and yet it feels like so much. And suddenly a chill spreads over him, the warmth in his belly from the tea going icy cold and he feels like he's been transported to another place; a place where he doesn't know this apartment or how to navigate it. A place where he's never seen a television before, much less knows how to operate one.

A place where he's only known Dimitri for a handful of months, and still questions if he should trust him in the dark.

—But these memories are so much better, and the tension dissipates with an exhale, and he's smiling at Dimitri again, shifting so that he's sitting closer to him on the couch, pulling his legs up so that he can drape them carelessly on Dimitri's lap. ]

You don't. And if you want to elaborate on all the reasons why you're so lucky, I won't complain.

[ Their faces are way too close in each other's space now, but he's enjoying it too much to care. ]

[overruns]

[ A moment hangs in the air after he speaks, tightly wound and unpleasant. The clothes he's wearing feels wrong. Even his skin doesn't seem to fit right. He's known Claude since high school, an austere building up in the mountains, built of immaculate, cold stone, where the mist fell in and made the grounds feel hallowed—except Danaca is all valleys and hills. It doesn't make sense. He knows Claude, but...

Does he really?

——Except, no, the discomfort is definitely because he's had a crush on Claude for the past year. That makes much more sense. Isn't it bad enough that he's ended up at his place without any sort of warning? He's jolted out of a shivery fit when Claude flops his legs onto him. ]

Ah.

[ When did he get so close? Sneaky. ] Well, you're much better at Chemistry than I was. And you've fixed my dislocated shoulder about a thousand times. Also, you're much better at coming up with ways to deal with Sand dealers than I am, apparently. [ Also, you have a nice face. He is sinking into the couch because he doesn't know where else to go. ] But your ego will be completely insufferable if I continue.

[shaft]

[ It is a little closer than Claude usually gets. Him and Dimitri are comfortable with one another, after years of school and awkwardly going through puberty in the same vicinity, but he's never been particularly physical.

So this is unusual. Like he's making a point.

It feels a little awkward, but he's ignoring that too, in favour of watching in amusement as Dimitri surrenders his perfect posture in favour of sinking into the couch. ]

So I saved you from being scolded by your sister because you got beat up, jumped into garbage with you, let you drive my car, welcomed you into my home and offered you my shower, but it's my ego that you can't endure.

[ He hums, propping his chin on Dimitri's shoulder, looking thoughtful. ]

I didn't know you were so miserly with your gratitude.

[overruns]

[ Claude works in physical therapy, so it stands to reason he might not see physical proximity as a big deal. Dimitri shouldn't think it anything to be awkward about either, but he feels wound up tense underneath Claude's chin. He barely turns his head towards him as he speaks. ]

To be fair, you jumped into the trash first.

[ Nailed it.


Wait, no, he's an idiot. ]

But—you're right, actually. [ He should be grateful. When Claude lists it all out, he's been a perfect host and friend—he even served them tea, which they've barely touched. There's a beat, and then he's abruptly scrambling off the couch, whipping away from Claude and Claude's too-close face to get back to the shower and his banished pile of clothes.

He's not gone long, though. When he comes back, he sits right beside Claude on the couch. Escape was apparently not his motive. Rather, he's pushing two things right into his palms: a keychain, and a folding pocketknife with a sizeable blade. With total earnestness: ]

Sorry, I don't have much on me today, but... I'd like you to have these.

[shaft]

[ Dimitri runs away, and that's not entirely expected. He lets him run around as he wants, looking after him for a moment before settling back on the couch and sipping his tea.

He plans to ask if everything is okay, but Dimitri returns before he can say anything, holding two items that he is surrendering over. It's... not quite what he expected.

It's disarming in a way that only Dimitri is. ]

Why do I feel like I'm stealing your lunch money?

[ He looks amused, closing Dimitri's palms over the two items and gently pushing them back toward him. ]

Thanks, Dimitri, but you don't have to fork over your things in return for me helping you. I meant it when I said I just want you to be safer in the future.

[overruns]

[ It's a lame offering, considering he just emptied out his pockets and turned over the contents to Claude. He shakes his head though. ]

That's not the only reason.

[ He put himself in a dangerous position to help him, which Dimitri has mixed feelings about. But when all is said and done and they're both safe, he's touched that Claude went so far out of his way to help stop him from getting shanked. And he believes him when he says that there's no strings attached. It's comforting. He's... happy. But he's still handing the contents of his pockets over, clearly sorting through his thoughts in real-time when he speaks. ]

Truthfully, the keychain I bought while I was shopping for Athy. And the knife is my own. [ He's not going to pretend he bought them for Claude and conveniently had them on him when he went to go confront a bunch of drug dealers. ] But I still want to give you something.

[ And a knife, strangely, feels like an apt gift. It's something Claude could protect himself with, but hopes he'll never have to use for more than cutting twine. It's personal to him, with his initials engraved faintly on the blade.

A sensible person would have brought flowers or something, though. They would also not be doing this in Claude's apartment after deeply inconveniencing him. ]

It'd feel a bit... lame to ask you out empty-handed. [ It's still really lame, but he's not the type to hold back on his feelings once he's realized what they are. Not unless he has, say, a quest for vengeance hanging over his head. ]

[shaft]

[ Claude would've believed Dimitri if he told him that he'd bought them specifically with Claude in mind, if he's honest. Dimitri is sweet and earnest, but sometimes his taste and decisions can be baffling.

Case in point: what? ]

Ask me...?

[ ??? Did Dimitri like him? Does he mean on a date?

On one hand, he doubts that Dimitri could be anything but sincere, but on the other... he's so sincere, that if he'd liked Claude, then surely Claude would've noticed. Surely, he would've noticed because he would've been looking for the signs of such a thing. Because—

He has to bite back the embarrassment, derailing his thoughts with questions as to why Dimitri just carries a large knife with him. ]

I'm not royalty, Dimitri. You don't have to present me with an offering to have a chance at my hand.

[ He says this, but he's so impossibly charmed. Dimitri cares for the people in his life so fiercely that he doesn't know how anyone could not be swept away by him. To relish basking in the glow of his affection.

He suddenly wants so badly to return the favour. ]

Do you really think I'd say no otherwise?

[ He scoots a little closer so that their knees are pressed together, pressing a hand to Dimitri's cheek to keep him from looking away. ]