(no subject)

[shall_yield_us]

BUCKLE UP: A TEST DRIVE MEME

Been feeling as if you'd sort of, kind of, maybe like to consider a new character at Poly? Haven't had the chance to figure out whether they work for you in the setting or in general?

Just start a thread for them here with:

character name | series

- in the title, and tag around! Alternatively, just comment to someone else's thread, either doing your own thing, assuming characters just met in the City, or maybe working off one of the following premises:

i. ...it's raining people! The character whom you're tagging missed the memo about perfect Fountain landings and ended up falling on your character instead.

OR

ii. ...ah, a lovely evening at a City shop or bar, when you've just realized you don't have the currency to pay your tab and you have to beg or steal it off someone else!

OR

iii. ...your characters are running up an endlessly high hill from a herd of rabid pandas.

Naturally, the meme is more than open to people who aren't currently at Poly, so pimp this to poor souls you're hoping to enable, it's the perfect time to lure'im in ♥

Comments

[anunluckypenny]

[The blue light-up eyes? The voice? Not decreasing the scary factor.]

Oh! That's... you know, I'm a huge fan of feeding ducks, so... [Er.] I'm Penny. It's nice to meet you.

[palecapslock]

[ Look, that's not his fault. ]

AS AM I. [ There's a slight nod of his head. ] I AM DEATH.

[ Yeah, she's probably figured that out. ]

[anunluckypenny]

[No, it's not, and she's trying not to be judgmental, really.]

Well, it's great to have you here, Death. [Would it be rude to run away? Yes. Definitely rude.] Do you... um. Want me to show you to the duck pond? Maybe round up some bread crumbs?

[palecapslock]

[ Well. Thank you for trying, at least, Penny. ]

THANK YOU. [ He's fairly certain she doesn't mean that, but oh well. ] IF YOU'D LIKE.

[ He can find them both on his own, of course, but... ]

[anunluckypenny]

Not a problem! I just need to run--to get the bread, I mean. For ducks. I'll be right back, okay?

[palecapslock]

SHOULD I WAIT HERE?

[anunluckypenny]

Yes! Please? If you don't mind. I don't know who all's in the Welcome Center right now and some of them might be kind of... startled, you know, if they say you.

[palecapslock]

YES, THAT HAPPENS. IT'S PART OF WHY I'M USUALLY NOT VISIBLE.

[ Well. That and omnipresence. ]

*saw, also

[anunluckypenny]

Oh. That's... kind of a bummer, actually, having to be invisible. I'm sorry, Death.

... lmao I read it as saw anyway

[palecapslock]

I'M USED TO IT. I HAVE WORKED FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

Then it was.

[anunluckypenny]

...I guess you'd get used to it after forever, huh. But bread! Just a second.

[Which is actually two minutes and thirty-six seconds, if anyone's counting, but Penny does come back with a partial loaf of bread in a bag.]

Still feel like feeding ducks?

[palecapslock]

YES.

[ He likes ducks. ]

WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEAD THE WAY?

[anunluckypenny]

Okay! Then just follow me, if you want.

[She's pretty cool with Death now. Poor guy, having to go around all invisible for eternity just because he's scary.]

[palecapslock]

[ He doesn't follow so much as walk alongside her (he has a rather long stride, being Death). ]

DO YOU FEED THEM OFTEN?

[anunluckypenny]

[He's kind of tall, too. Death's doing really well with the being-intimidating thing.]

Whenever I can. I really like ducks.

[palecapslock]

[ Oh, yes, he's very tall. And wearing biker clothing still. ]

THEY'RE REMARKABLE INTELLIGENT CREATURES.

[anunluckypenny]

Can you talk to them? Like, is knowing duck-speak part of the Death package?

[palecapslock]

EVEN DUCKS MAY LIKE SOMEONE TO SPEAK TO IN THEIR FINAL MOMENTS.

[ That's a yes. ]

[anunluckypenny]

Good point.

[Look, they're by the lake in Xanadu where ducks like to gather! Penny breaks off a chunk of bread and offers the bag to Death.]

That's really thoughtful of you, giving everyone a chance get a last word in.

[palecapslock]

[ Death takes the bag and rips off his own chunk. The ducks don't seem to be afraid of him at all, and although he shouldn't actually have expressions, he seems pleased. ]

MOST PEOPLE AREN'T GOOD CONVERSATIONALISTS.

[anunluckypenny]

[Well, that settles it. If the aren't afraid of Death, Penny won't be, either. Ducks have sixth senses about that kind of thing.]

In general, or when they're dying?

[She crumbles up some bread and tosses it towards the nearest group of ducks. As ducks will, they act like they haven't been fed in ages.]

[palecapslock]

[ Animals are, in general, much less afraid of dying than people are. They also tend to notice the fact that Death is, as a rule, everywhere. ]

I DON'T TALK TO MOST PEOPLE WHEN THEY AREN'T DYING.

[ He gives the ducks a bit of a moment to chase after the bread before tossing his own for the stragglers. ]

[anunluckypenny]

[Yeah, people are pretty good at denying death right up until they die.]

[brightly] Then the City must be a nice break for you. I mean, some of us are already dead, so your job's done and you can kick back and feed the ducks.

[palecapslock]

MY JOB HAS BEEN ALTERED HERE, WITH HOW THIS PLACE DEALS WITH DEATH.

[ The dead should not walk, after all, and yet they do. Still, they are still dead, and so he doesn't mind too much. ]

BUT THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT DIE; PLANTS, ANIMALS, AND THOSE STRANGE OBJECTS WITH BLINKING LIGHTS.

[anunluckypenny]

Oh--the not dying. Right. I'm sorry about that. [Because it's all Penny's fault that death doesn't take in the City, of course.]

Blinking lights? Like electronics? [She pulls out her network device.] Like this thing? This is my second one. The first one got eaten by a two-headed sandworm.