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Aimee eats Applejaxc
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Aimee
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Dec 06, 2014 07:55PM

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So. What kind of stories do you like? I've pitched a low-scifi (nothing unrealistic) near-future detective/mystery setting that involves fighting religious fanatics and solving dastardly crimes, but it required too much reading for the last two people :(

"If you want to die, take me with you." I'd love to do an rp around that quote of some sort. Yes, realistic is what I'm looking for so....
Plot 1:
Father [or older brother] just came back from war. He's dealing with a lot of stuff including PTSD. Little does he know that his wife/mother, who was a drug addict, left him legal guardian of kid. That kid now shows up at his doorstep with nowhere else to go.
Plot 2:
Two kids, both rejected by family and pretty much life, pass each other one day and start to hang out. They find that their lives are completely different, yet strangely alike. Despite their differences, they both deal with a similar problem: suicide. One leaves a message with the other saying 'goodbye'. Before the one attempts suicide, the other shoes up and stops them.

The first is interesting, I suppose, but it doesn't sound like there'd be a lot to do. There's only so many PTSD episodes and getting into trouble at school subplots before the RP becomes repetitive.
In the second, I tend to shy away from teenage stuff, especially suicide related stuff. I can't write it authentically because I fail to identify with or empathize suicidal "Rejects."
The ideas aren't bad, but it would be unfair of me to choose either; you'd be driving the story almost exclusively.

Plot 3:
Two kids [teens or adults] are in a hospital and assigned roommates, both in for completely different reasons. They get rather close in the hospital. After a while both are released and encounter each other on the street.


Like I mentioned earlier, near-future detective mystery following the exploits of IDSA agent Alan and his trustworthy sidekick as they foil the plots of an international guns smuggler and an ultra-conservative "Newborn Christian" cult called the Church of Reformation?



I know you said realistic, so I'm bouncing this idea just for the sake of proving my elasticity:
A fair (but aloof) prince wants to prevent war between humans and elves (and other races?), but to do so will need to remove his racist parents from power. He doesn't want to kill them, but depending on the PC's diplomatic success (or failure) it may be an inevitability. The story would follow the adventures of the archetypical adventuring party (thief/archer, priest/healer, leader/warrior, loremaster/magician) who inadvertently are hired to undertake a number of increasingly difficult tasks to bring peace around the kingdom until, ultimately, they're called upon to help the prince lead or fight the revolution. In this scenario there are fantasy elements, but none of the characters would be able to fly/shoot fire/teleport/et cetera.
If you don't like crime fighting, that's my #1 "Realistic" RP idea and one I haven't been able to use yet. The very first RP I was in that I enjoyed involved a man working for a shady "Medicinal Research" company being assigned to take care of a "Test Subject." He thought it would be an animal being used to benchmark medication before it was approved for human trials, but instead it was a person who had undergone genetherapy in the womb to grow cat ears, a tail, and combine the best of both worlds in eyesight (could see in darkness like a cat or other predator, but could better process imagines, shapes, and colors like a human). At some point the male leaves with the female, but in the original the story was bogged down with silliness as we had no idea what to do once they'd escaped together.
Sorry; it seems like "realistic" isn't something I'm good at :)

Twist:
Assigned research project, human with electronic chip implanted in brain that allows them to access any computer and essentially take over the world...but they are mentally unstable and has violent tendencies.

And as far as the twist goes, no. I absolutely loathe my culture's growing teenage obsession with "Random." "Mentally unstable" and "has violent tendencies" are the main ingredients of hotmess soup; every time I've dealt with a character like that, either the character never actually acts like they're insane/violent unless its convenient for their writer, who argues vehemently that "He's only crazy sometimes" like a bipolar twat without medication or is so off-the-wall that it's impossible to actually incorporate the character in any plot that isn't all of the other characters pointlessly chasing the crazy one down and dealing with his antics, which is a 1-way street of unsatisfying story telling.
Sorry. I have had a LOT of bad experiences roleplaying and I'm not exactly facing this with an open mind. Maybe we should take a step back:
What kind of characters do you enjoy writing for? My assumption is ones between 14-22 with parent/family troubles that act tough/independent but are emotional cripples or otherwise emotionally/mentally incompetent and I am expected to play the crutch. While I don't mind that role, I don't like that being the story. Love, drama, family trouble, insanity, et cetera, should always be addressed as a subplot that affects (but is not the main) the story.
I enjoy playing the following, male or female:
Members of emergency services, such as EMTs, paramedics, private security, and officers of the law (FBI, Federal Marshal, SWAT, HRT, or conventional officers)
Members (or former members) of the United States Armed Forces (I don't know enough about the military terminology or procedure of other countries to satisfyingly write for them), in particular members of the medical corps of any branch (Pararescue Air Force, 68W/18D US Army, Department of the Navy corpsman serving in a Marine Corps unit, et cetera)
Mercenaries/contractors
Adventurers (for fantasy settings)
Artificer/alchemist or other "Practical" magician (not the fireball throwing kind)
Royalty, particularly ones without an important job that requires constant attention (no kings or queens, archdukes, viscounts, or anything else of that ilk)
Thief/bounty hunter-type characters, who require Rico Suave skills as much as martial abilities or stealth.
I don't enjoy playing "That kid who sits behind me in math" or "The awkward kid next door." If I wanted to do that, I'd be enjoying life a lot more.


Characters I like to play:
Age range: 16 and up
I do like to have pretty emotionally unstable characters or mentally unstable characters. But that's fine to forgo them for a while since you seem to vehemently hate these characters.
I have no specific categories that I like to rp. The characters I use are very diverse and different. I like to adapt to the rp and make twists here and there that affect the characters.
RP's that I like:
I like dynamic rps, where both people have an equal importance in the storyline [no one character is controlling the show]]. I also like when we can agree on something.
Alt. Plot 1:
Game where pairs are required to work together to kill other teams scattered around the globe. These teams compete in the largest unknown reality tv show [people think that the show is fake]. These teams are put together by big businesses that offer the participants large amounts of money. The end result of a 'match' is one team killing the other and getting the 'flag' which holds key information about the next event.
Alt. Plot 2:
Air Force pilot and gunner go into war zone. They are captured and placed in a POW camp. The pilot survives and actually escapes. Now the pilot is paired with a new gunner who has a lot of training, but little experience. They have a very important role...flying the 'hump'. [[wwii reference]]

ALTLPT1 does sound interesting, but I do have a few questions:
How do the contestants get equipment? Does equipment carry over between matches? How do they get around the globe? Are they and the other team flown to a country or do teams need to find a way to secure transportation every time they want to pursue someone, only to find out the other team just flew halfway across the world to pursue them? What about police interference? If people think the show is all staged, and the people running the show didn't have control over local governments, wouldn't running from the law be a little tedious if contestants met in New York or Stockholm? How are contestants selected?


If they have to find their own weapons and supplies, are they at least given stipends or in-game credits (like a video game) they can exchange at pre-approved black markets? (Like a smuggler who normally sells guns to gangs is told by the show he'll be reimbursed for accepting "Blood Tokens" or whatever you want to use). Otherwise I don't see how the characters are going to have access to anything more interesting than a knife.


Exactly how "real" does it have to be? Like, we can't make up Chinese, Indian, or Russian involvement in the middle east? A new terrorist organization? Et cetera
My vote is the blood sports thing, but you'll have to show me how to make it more interesting than "Go to X, kill Y, got to Z, repeat"


1 enjoys killing, 1 is doing it out of necessity?
1 has been a contestant for a while, one hasn't?
I'm drawing a blank, sorry (which is not to say I don't think there's possibilities)


That does sound interesting. I have other questions, though:
1: Can the "Players" get an app or something so they can keep track of their in-game credits, score, reread instructions/hints/tips/whatever? Their phone would be the real-life equivalent to a "Help" menu in a game
2: Can we keep the fighting areas and styles diverse? Sometimes jungle, sometimes city, sometimes ruins, sometimes guns vs guns, melee vs melee, melee vs guns, et cetera?
Would you like to post first or would you like me to?


1: yes
2: it's up to the players to get their own weapons, so it'd be hard to have a guns vs guns, melee vs melee definitely. It'd be whatever the other team brings.


Dylan was pressed for money...he always was. But this time was different. Recently his father passed away and his younger sister has fallen ill. He's never really had money to begin with, but he decided to move back in with his mother to help with Lucy. After picking up random jobs and being essentially a day laborer for the last few weeks, Dylan was not getting anywhere. As if paying Lucy's medical bills wasn't enough, now his mother was out of a job.
He arrived at the coffee shop where he was told to meet his new 'partner'. Last week he was contacted by S.T.A.R.Z. industries, a well known electronics business, and offered a job. He was told that everything would be clear once they met.
Swirling the hot tea around in his cup, Dylan stared blankly at it. His grey sweat jacket, blue jeans, and tee-shirt didn't say much about himself, but probably just enough. Dylan's mind went over the incoming bills for next month; which he could forgo and which he had to pay. At least that was keeping his mind busy as he waited. The job promised sounded good. Not a lot of detail was given, but he understood that if he performed well there would be a good amount of money for him.

Alan rolled his eyes and clicked his phone off, rereading in his head what he'd seen every day since he got back:
We appreciate your inquiry... you have great potential... one of many candidates... decided to hire a more qualified individual... sorry and good luck.
He sat back, turned his hand over to look at his watch and scratched his wrist. I really hope this isn't how pornography hires its talents, he thought pessimistically as he rose from his outside seat and pushed his way through the cafe's front door.
Where Dylan's clothing managed to be nonexpressive, Alan was the epitome of self-disclosure; he wore the jacket of his ACU over a black t-shirt that had the knife and spade of the US Army airborne.. Across the shoulders it read the Ranger's motto in gold letters: Lead the way (hidden from view but proudly riding nonetheless). He also wore jeans and black boots.
Expressionless, Alan scanned the cafe. I wonder if they'll buy me lunch.

Dylan was zoned out when Alan walked through the door. He was blankly staring out the window as his tea grew cold. The only reason he bought the tea was to get the table. It wasn't like he really wanted it. Nevertheless, Dylan guided it to his lips to take a sip.
As he took the sip, his eyes fell on the soldier who walked in. Well, Dylan wasn't sure if the man was a soldier or not, but he was wearing an army jacket and was obviously built. Whenever Dylan saw someone like that he got slightly self-conscious. Unlike the figure, Dylan was lanky and thin. His skin was rather pale for an adult man. The only thing he liked was being about 6'2". That wasn't even something to really be proud of, he just liked feeling tall.
As he sat there admiring the other, the waitress came over to ask him if he needed anything. "No, this is fine for now," Dylan replied hoping she wouldn't kick him out or anything.
His mind then drifted to the strange letter he received last week with the info. It promised a job, but didn't explain what the job was or why he was chosen. All it said was to meet someone at the coffee shop. Very descriptive. Dylan wondered who he was supposed to meet here. Hopefully someone with more information on the subject.

(I was hoping you'd provide some not awkward way for them to identify each other...)
The cafe-midweek afternoon rush as it was-did not have many patrons. Most tables had couples, one had a man, wife, and presumably their child, and the others were college students of varying levels of pretentiousness tapping away at phones or laptops. The only person who looked as out of place as he felt was the casually-dressed man failing to enjoy his drink.
Alan walked to the table in few strides: "..." If this isn't him I'm going to look like an ass. "Expecting company?" he decided, so he could excuse the sans preamble introduction as simply looking for an empty seat. While Alan was similar in height, he towered over Dylan when standing.

Dylan looked up at the new guy and replied, "Yes actually, are you Alan?" Unsure if this was the right way to go about things. Dylan was given the name of his partner, but not much else. As he looked at the figure, Dylan wondered what exactly he was getting himself into. "Hello, I'm Dylan. Did you get a strange envelope in the mail as well? Or was it only me?" Dylan could probably figure this question out himself. If the guy was asking, then he probably did get a letter.
Dylan stayed seated and wondered what he was doing. He couldn't offer to buy the guy anything since he didn't have money to buy himself a meal, but that was besides the point. Reaching into his pocket, Dylan pulled out a small key like thing. It seemed like a piece was missing and Dylan hoped that this guy would have the other part. [Their first flag].

Alan walked around the table to sit facing the door. "I am," he said after a calculated, uncomfortable silence. With a loud zrrratch he pulled open one of the velcro breast pockets and produced an item fashioned from the same material. "And I may have," he added, holding out an expectant hand. Much like the first Saw movie, he was resolved not to be the first to exchange items. "You my refer to me as Hawke for the duration of our partnership, however long it may be; I prefer to avoid first names."

Dylan was skeptical of the figure. Maybe it was because he didn't exactly trust him yet, or maybe it was the presence the man gave off. Either way, Dylan wasn't feeling it. "Fine, Hawke," Dylan replied with some sarcasm. He didn't really know what was going on, but if the people already knew their names and they knew each other's names why hide? Besides, Alan and Dylan seemed like pretty common names. They weren't like L-A [L(dash)A] or something unusual.
Dylan handed the key piece over to Alan and leaned back into the seat. He could care less what the other guy did with the key. Part of him wondered what would happen when the two pieces were joined.

Alan unceremoniously slid one into the other, deciding not to waste anyone's time.
And... (sorry, it's your show exposition wise)

The voice was slightly hushed as it stated, "You have both been chosen to participate in the Ladder Games. Here you will work together as a team sponsored by a business to face off against other teams from around the globe. The goal of the game is to eliminate the opponent, at whatever means necessary. Choose to accept this offer and you can win money for every win. Depending on the win you can get upwards of $10,000 every win. Decline the offer now with no consequences, but know that you cannot back out of the game once in. The only way out of the game is by death. You must both accept to participate. If you do accept, connect the key and receive your flag coordinates for your first challenge." With that the key split apart and the two pieces lay unmoving on the table.
Amazingly, no one seemed to notice the strange instructions from the hologram. To be frank, it was almost scary how no one reacted to the strange occurrence. Dylan was glancing around at the other customers as they continued their day as if nothing happened.
Dylan looked at Alan as if to ask, what now?. The idea of killing was not pleasant, but then again, he was willing to kill for money. That amount could support his family for over a month and if he continued to bring in that amount, Dylan could even recreate his family's lifestyle. "I'm in if you are," Dylan finally stated with determined eyes.

When it ended, Alan looked at Dylan. I killed for money for six years and earned a lot more than that, plus benefits. "Well, you seem to make up your mind quickly." The wording was decidedly indecisive (as unintentionally as Alan thought his contract was in his last employment...), though the solemn "To the death" disclaimer left little room for doubt that this was serious. Plus, Alan hadn't seen anything like that since LANDWARRIOR was in R&D. "But you don't look like the killing type. Is this some kind of fucking psych evaluation? Dr. Roberts cleared me for PTSD you shit-ass fucking..." he trailed off, grumbling increasingly grave and offensive remarks, and spitefully slammed the pieces back together. "Happy? Huh? Willing to kill for money? Going to put in the fucking looney bin? At least you'll go back to giving me three fucking meals a day, Uncle Sam you cheap bastard."

He seemed pretty pissed off at, well the world. Taken back a bit, Dylan kept his mouth shut as Alan cursed. Something within Alan scared Dylan a bit. It seemed like he was a ticking time bomb. Leaning back in his seat, Dylan stared at the 'flag' waiting for something to happen. But nothing did. Dylan wondered if it was broken since Alan slammed the thing together.



Dylan looked at Alan and nodded. He wasn't sure what was going to happen next. Now that they were both in, Dylan noticed that the flag began to glow again. He looked down and wondered what would happen next. It didn't do much other than glow slightly.
"Why don't we find a more private place to go to," Dylan suggested as he looked around at the growing lunch crowd. Looking into the other's eyes, Dylan didn't break the connection. This was his way of saying he was serious and to not underestimate him in any way.

"Did you come here in a car? Like I said, I'm parked around the corner."

Dylan glanced at the flag before standing. "I walked, it wasn't too far from my house and it was a nice day," Dylan lied. He actually lived about three miles from the place, but he didn't want Alan to know how bad off he really was. Instead he picked up the flag and headed towards the door. "Where are you parked?" Dylan asked as he waited for Alan to follow.

Eventually, they came to a black Dodge Charger. Alan pulled keys from his pocket and unlocked it, then opened the driver-side door and sat down. "Private enough?"

With them both in the car, the flag began to glow...actually get warm forcing Dylan to take it out of his pocket. Dylan placed it on the dashboard.

(We agreed on equal story telling, but it's totally your call on all the STARZ stuff. I'll decide location, rules, or whatever you need, but I want you to set the tone. Are they serious commanders, or ambivalent fat cats?)

Dylan thought on the last sentence and wondered just what they meant by 'eliminated'. "The stage will be set for you in two weeks. You are allowed to bring in weapons of your choice, but know that if you get arrested for carrying such weapons and miss the event, you will be considered a 'forfeit'. May you live in oblivion." With that the voice stopped. The key stayed open as if to help the two plan their strategy for playing.