Test Drive 1: Beachville

[fluxscapemod]

((Note: We are still under going construction here at Fluxscape! However, we've decided to open the TDM to better gauge the level of player interest. If you have any questions please comment to our Rules and FAQ page!))


[ ooc: Welcome to our first TDM! TDM links can be considered game canon. Here is a link For anyone wishing to reserve with us!

Also, please be sure to check our reserves page to make sure there isn't an existing reserve for the character! Please and Thank You! -Fluxscape Mods. ]




Upon Arrival

You know how it goes. One minute you're minding your own business. Maybe you're in your own universe, maybe you're in another one entirely. Whichever the case, you blink and suddenly you find yourself in front of a small, wooden information booth, without so much as a warning. The weather is lovely, the environment peaceful, until someone clears their throat nearby to get your attention. It's coming from the booth. Inside the booth sits an older gentleman, old enough to be your grandfather, and he's smiling warmly at you.

"Welcome," he says, giving you a grin and a small nod. He means no harm and regards you with some curiosity before reaching towards a stack of very plain looking pamphlets in front of him.

"It'd be in your best interest," he states, going through the pamphlets before pulling one up, turning to reach into a filing cabinet for an envelope clearly stuffed with something. "It'd be in your best interest to take these. And to check your pockets," he states. The envelope is filled with money, paper bills that seem to shift colors in the light, and the pamphlet welcomes you to the current settings of this pocket dimension and tells you that while lodging is free, entertainment, food and other necessities are not so it's probably best that you find a job.

Inside your pockets are a set of keys and a map to a house. The house is yours. You'll even find a chest in your bedroom, containing six items from home, some of which you're sure shouldn't even fit in there.

Welcome to Town.

Just ask anyone, Beachville is the most beautiful city anywhere! That's exactly what the NPCs will tell you with a genuine smile on their faces and a happy nod. It even just might be true. For a beach as crowded as it is, it's surprisingly clean! The sand is just right. Not too hot and soft to the touch. The water is so blue you can see marine life swimming just under the surface. A variety of multicolored fish. Dolphins. The occasional mermaid. ...yes, that was in fact a mermaid! They're playful, don't worry. They won't try to drown you, Maybe just knock you off your surfboard with a laugh and a flash of a shimmery tail as they swim off to who knows where. There are still sharks in that very blue, very clear water, but they're not interested in you in the slightest. In fact, they seem very keen on avoiding you. There's so much to do here in Beachville! There's fishing off the docks, well away from where people are swimming. There's a boardwalk with almost every shop imaginable. A tattoo artist, a piercing parlor, a place to buy silly souvenirs like hermit crabs in cages, or ridiculous shirts. There's so much food to be tried; Pizzas, Salt Water Taffy's, lemonades of various flavors and some of the best burgers and fries you've ever had! If the day-life isn't for you, wait until dark. The amusement park (which opens at sunrise and runs until 2 AM), lights up the night in a fantastic and colorful display, the sounds of the roller coasters and laughing guests heard for miles around, and part of the docks turns into an open air nightclub, complete with dance floor, beverages for all and alcohol for anyone over eighteen. Don't try to trick the bartender. They'll know. If the hustle and bustle and noise of the beach isn't for you, don't worry. There are many resorts nearby with their own private swimming pools and entertainment. There are coffee shops on almost every street, various boutiques and curios to look at and a movie theater or two. Don't worry; you'll also find the more necessary stores like grocery stores (where there is something for almost everyone), pharmacies, book stores, clothing stores, hardware stores. There's even a police station, fire house and hospital. But that's not what Beachville is about! Everyone needs a vacation, right?

Beachville Locations
(Feel Free to use our locations to spark ideas for prompts! Check out other fun locations Here!)

	Beachville Boardwalk and Amusements Just what it says on the tin. Every possible Boardwalk location you can think of is here. Tattoo parlors, really cheesy t-shirts and hideous beach attire, awesome food of highly dubious nutritious value. There are also rides, like a huge ferris wheel, bumper cars, spinning rides and a huge roller coaster. At night, part of the boardwalk closes and turns into a place for dancing, drinking (For anyone over eighteen) and watching fireworks every weekend until 2 AM.
	The Surf Board There are three of these places located along the beach, and each one seems to be run by surfers in 'business attire'. Of course, by business attire, we mean these shirts and khaki shorts. They're here for all your surfing needs whether it be board rentals, lessons or even board purchases and care products. Dude.
	Shellfish Shack A small, outdoor restaurant right beside the fishing docks that can happily boast the freshest, most inexpensive seafood. There are crabs, lobsters, shellfish of many edible varieties and other seafood, besides. They also sell fresh catches by the pound that you can cook yourself at home, so go ahead and buy some! And be sure to buy some of their fresh made lemonade by the gallon. It's known all over Beachville as the best.
	Beach Breeze The Perfect place outdoors to grab a smoothie or any kind of fruit juice. They also serve the best shaved ice you've ever had in your life. What a great way to beat the heat!

Comments

[templeandarch]

Door laughs, but it’s not at him. “They would be adorable with little pouches but no, you tell them the message and who to take it to, and they go and tell that person.” She makes this sound like the most sensible way to do things.

“They’re not psychic. They’re clever and have brilliant memories. I’ve never had a message go wrong.” Rats are probably the safest creatures in London Below.

[yokeye]

"That makes sense, I guess. More reliable than humans!"

He doesn't know anything about rats, but he knows first-hand how terrible the memories of humans can be.

[nosuchthingasfate]

But she couldn't pay an identity to his nose more than the fact that they were just strangers meeting for the first time. She has no desire to mock him, not in the state she is in or ever. It's not in her nature to do.

So she waits quietly as he seems to drum up the courage to answer her before relaxing with a small smile again, nodding a bit as she decides that his name is interesting. It certainly isn't anything like she has ever heard before.

But then again he isn't like anyone she has ever met before either.

"It's nice to meet you." She tells him with a little nod. "Cyrano de Bergerac."

[nosuchthingasfate]

Then I'll take it as a good thing I don't know.

[ Because she isn't really sure she wants to deal with anything else to be concerned about at the moment. ]

[biggest_loser]

[He blinked, then frowned as the kid took off.]

Weird encounter number one.

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<small>[He blinked, then frowned as the kid took off.]</small>

Weird encounter number one. <he said and looked, seeing it was his turn. He ordered two corn dogs and a side of large fries, paying for it with the weird money, then stepping out of line, walking over to the bench and offering the kid a corn dog in a paper boat.]</small>

Here. I got some water too. And fries, if you would like some. <small>[He sat his down on the bench, pulled two bottles of water from his pockets and offered one to the kid, then took a seat. Water sounded so good right now.]</small>

Got a name, kid?

[yokeye]

Thank you.

[He's a little surprised by the extra food, and some water, which he's been neglecting. He takes the bottle gratefully, but sets it aside to inspect the corn dog. It's certainly a strange thing, but he's eaten any number of weird things, like chocolate-covered snails, so he doesn't hesitate to shove it in his mouth... and answer the question while chewing.]

Toki. You're not from here either, are you?

[He's finally picking up on Ben's clothes.]

[biggest_loser]

Toki. [He repeats, and gives a nod.] I'm Ben.

[A simple enough introduction. He watches the kid eat for a moment, then takes a bit of his own corn dog. It's good. Everything here seemed overly good, right down to the softness of the sand. It was weird.]

[As for his clothing, it's a mess, and people have been giving him looks all day.]

You could say that. You showed up here out of nowhere too?

[yokeye]

It's nice to meet you, Ben~!

[He decides he likes corn dogs, and will probably buy them again. When he gets a job. Ugh. No. When he gets a roommate who has a job.]

Yeah, it was weird. I swear I was just heading back to the inn, but then... I took a wrong turn, I guess.

[Which he does a lot, and it's not strange for him to suddenly not recognize where he is or how he got there. Only, it's usually somewhere close.]

I mean, I thought I did, and that I got lost or something, but... I don't live near the ocean. So this dimension thing is... well, it makes sense. What happened to you?

[biggest_loser]

You too.

[Actually this corn dog tasted like heaven right now. Then he realized it had been sometimes since the Chinese restaurant. Well shit.]

[He took a fry and pondered for a moment.]

Mmm, I was walking back into town with some friends. I turned to look at one of them and suddenly I was standing near a old man at a information desk. I'm pretty sure I'm delusional.

[yokeye]

[Toki laughs at the delusional comment; he doesn't mean to, but it just comes out. A sort of nervous, short giggle.]

No, I think this is... real. I can tell now, most of the time.

[He starts in on the fries.]

Maybe there was a portal.

Re: Beach Breeze

[smallville_guy]

"I'm glad I'm not the only one that thinks so," Clark said, smiling at the other boy. Because honestly he was going to have at least two more before he headed somewhere else so it was good that he wasn't the only one who felt this way. "Do you have a recommendation? I was just about to get another one."

idk what you're talking about Clark is a normal boy from Krypt- Kansas. I said Kansas.

[smallville_guy]

"I don't know that I've ever heard of a pizza place with a fifties aesthetic. Well, except for the pizza place back home that just hadn't remodeled since the 50's. Big slices of pizza is good to know though," Clark said. He knew that he'd have to be tight with his money until he got a job so knowing where to get the most bang for his buck was good.

"I think right now I'm going to stick with the smoothies though," he admitted. He'd had good pizza before but he hadn't had smoothies like this. "I'm Clark, by the way. Clark Kent."

[biggest_loser]

[Honestly, he doesn't mind the laugh. He'd laugh too if he wasn't sure there was something to it. IT maybe.]

Can you? Everything seems too... perfect. The sand is soft, it's not hot. This corn dog tastes like the best corn dog ever. These fries are perfectly golden and this water is cool. The sky seems too right. The boardwalk too clean.

[a pause at that though]

Portal? A portal to a perfect board walk and beach?

[yokeye]

[Toki's getting less and less confident in his claim of reality as Ben goes on to describe everything as perfect. Too perfect. He's right. The world isn't like this. No world could be like this, could it? Did he just make all this up? Corn dogs and all? He's starting to panic, and tries not to show it.]

Y-yes. I've been through portals and it's instantaneous. They were visible though, and... I guess you'd know you went through one?

[templeandarch]

“Eminently more reliable,” Door takes the last bit of the meat of some type on a stick. The only thing she’s sure about is that it’s not cat. “But you have to respect them. Rats can be very sensitive to slights.”

With her hands now free, she holds one out. “Door.”

[biggest_loser]

[He didn't mean to shake his confidence or scare him. He sits there eating slowly, considering it all.]

I mean, maybe? [He says about portals.] Maybe I just didn't see it. For now it at least seems safe here.

[yokeye]

He stares a her hand for a moment. The gesture registers and he knows what he's supposed to do, but...

"That's a hand."

The 'door' threw him off.

[yokeye]

Yeah.

[And that's suddenly frightening. He'd left a world where they were gearing up for the apocalypse, and almost everything had been terrible. He was just starting to experience good things in his life and now he was here.]

Safe. That's a unconsciously telling word choice, isn't it? Because you weren't safe where you were.

[It's partially a guess, but he's been working hard to understand and recognize nuances in conversations.]

[biggest_loser]

[He sits his half eaten corn dog down and opens the water, frowning as the other seemed to pick up on something he didn't even realize he was telegraphing. But it was true. He hadn't been safe before, and now? Well...]

That's very observant of you. I suppose for a bit I wasn't in a safe position, but I think things ended. Or I thought they did.

[He hoped this wasn't all ITs doing]

[templeandarch]

Door looks at her untaken hand just to be sure there isn’t food on it. She’s confused. “Of course it’s a hand.”

She tries again, “Just like I’m Door.”

[yokeye]

[He nods slowly.]

Sometimes things come back, that you thought were gone. That you were over.

[He'd spent a long time wishing for safety, in the sense of shielding himself from things that happen in the world. Something he never achieved, but he's learned to deal with the absence of it.]

This is stupid maybe, but I want... I want this to be real. I don't want to go back.

[Saying it out loud cements it for him. Why can't this seemingly perfect beach town be that safe place?]

[yokeye]

"Oh! That's your name!"

Awkward. He quickly grasps her hand and shakes it a little too vigorously.

"Sorry! It's a nice name! I'm Tokidoki."

He doesn't usually use his full name, but he's trying to show solidarity in having a horrible one.

[creepyoldguy]

“I’m not sure what the point would be. Wet corpse isn’t much improvement.”

Okay, so, it was a little bit of an improvement. But, as long as people were willing to pay attention to him.

[templeandarch]

She shakes back with enthusiasm. She’s always happy to meet new people. “Thank you, my parents picked it.” There’s a slight hitch at the word parents.

“Nice to meet you Tokidoki.” Door thinks her own name is excellent, and resents when people try to imply it should be Doreen, or Doris. That’s a London Above quirk.

“Did you just arrive?”

[yokeye]

He barely catches the hitch, but stops himself from mentioning it. 'Parents' are sometimes a touchy subject.

"I did! Earlier today, and I don't really know what's going on, but... that's okay, for now."