Test Drive 2: Beachville in Flux.

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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. And if you're polite, he'll give you a box of cookies that taste exactly like ones from home.

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!

Bear in mind, however, that while things look bright an shiny and lovely, shops have a tendency to move overnight and change entirely. What was once beachville's finest seafood yesterday is, today, the finest in antiques and even though the owner looks like the right owner, he'll insist he's never sold seafood, nor does he like the stuff or know the first thing about it.

The sandwich shop you love is now a small advertising agency and the round and jovial owner is now rude and loud and doesn't remember your usual at all because he doesn't run a sandwich shop now quit wastin' his time!

And should your character notice there's no town dump, even though people generate garbage and there are garbage trucks, it'll be discovered upon following them that they seem to vanish all on their own with no trace whatsoever that they'd been there at all, save that there's less garbage in town.

Or maybe your character isn't for staying in such an odd place and they're going to try to leave. Good luck with that. You'll only get so far past the borders of Beachville before they're dumped right outside the information booth with Jerry the Booth Guy peering over his paper at them. Another attempt and maybe you won't get quite as far. You'll get to just within view of the 'Now Leaving Beachville' sign just at the edge of town before finding yourself once again outside of Jerry's booth. Keep trying. You'll get bored of it eventually.

Comments

Boardwalk, because I couldn't help myself

[officiallywhelmed]

[ At the shop next door is a teen wearing probably too many layers for being so close to the beach, though he doesn't seem to mind as he examines the tchotchke in the outdoor display. Even with the shades covering his eyes, he's clearly amused as he picks up one of the trinkets to examine. ]

Not really much of a souvenir.

[ It looks like something he could buy at home. Which wouldn't be enough to prove to Wally that he'd been abducted into a whole other world. ]

G A S P (why is no one ever just WHELMED)

[menarebrave]

I could think of worse souvenirs.

[ Bruce, sneaking up behind people unexpectedly and announcing himself with a dry remark? Never. Except, all the time. Always. It's amazing how people haven't caught onto the fact he is the Bat just because of that.

There's a shrug then. ]

Most people just go with shirts.

[officiallywhelmed]

[ Luckily, years of working with his own Bat has him used to a sudden presence behind him, so his only reaction to the unexpected voice is a snicker. ]

Well, unless it says, 'By the way, this T-shirt was purchased from another dimension', I'll pass.

[ Placing the trinket back down on the shelf, he finally turns to look at the figure. And he can't help frowning a bit, because there's something about the man that seems...familiar. ]

You from here, or somewhere else?

[menarebrave]

You could probably get one of those shops to make it. They have those print your own sayings, don't they?

[ He gives a smirk to the younger man in sunglasses.

It's probably the fact he's not wearing beach attire. Suit vest, rolled up sleeves, slacks and fancy shoes. Business man out on the boardwalk. ]

Somewhere else. I imagine there's a lot of people here like that.

[officiallywhelmed]

Considering there’s a guy in a booth waiting to hand out pamphlets to unsuspecting arrivals? Seems to happen quite a bit.

[ The fact that this place is pretty prepared for something like that sets off his Bat-trained suspicion, but he needs to find out more about this place before he can really do anything.

And might as well enjoy the beach while he does. ]

[menarebrave]

The guy with the cookies. I hear his name is Jerry.

[ Obviously, he hasn't quite made his way there to investigate that yet. He's been gathering information on not just what kind of place this is -- but the people here.

He nods to the shop. ]

Better get your souvenir before you leave.

[officiallywhelmed]

That’s him. The cookies weren’t bad, either.

[ Nowhere near as good as Alfred’s cookies, but still pretty decent.

Glancing back at the beach memorabilia, he shrugs. ]

From the looks of things, we’ll be here a while. So I can always get something later.

[menarebrave]

I've heard they're good. Just haven't made my way down that way yet.

[ Bruce slides his hands into his pants pockets and sighs, looking at the boardwalk with a particular keen eye. Does anything stand out? is it going to cause him issues? Is the Bat even needed here? A million questions and deductions winding around in his head. ]

You never know. We ended up here randomly as it was.

[officiallywhelmed]

That’s true too.

[ He couldn’t help watching the man before him. There’s something about him, something familiar, but he can’t put his finger on why.

And he hesitates as he debates how to introduce himself. Being in another dimension didn’t really affect his secret identity back home, but old habits die hard.

....maybe a comprise. ]

I’m Ricky, by the way.

[menarebrave]

[ He turns to look back at the younger man when he speaks again. An easy smile takes his face--an old practiced one. One that says he's used to all sorts of introductions. ]

Bruce. I'd say it's good to meet you, but, the circumstances put a bit of a dampener on things.

[officiallywhelmed]

[ He sees that, but only because he knows what it looks like, and practiced it himself on occasion. And his eyes widen beneath his sunglasses, because he suddenly realizes exactly he seems familiar.

Except it isn’t possible...was it? ]

...that wouldn’t happen to be Bruce Wayne, would it?

[menarebrave]

[ He raises his eyebrows. Well, he can't be famous here already. Which means he's heard of Bruce Wayne back home. Though... "home" could be... ]

The one and only. Just without the big house and the big billion dollar company now.

[officiallywhelmed]

[ His frown deepens as his mind races. This definitely isn’t his Bruce. If it was, he would’ve recognized his civilian disguise by now. Plus, the man before him looks a bit older than the man he knows back home.

Then again, if he is in another dimension, then it could be possible that there’s some truth to the idea that there are alternate versions of similar realities.

His voice drops by degrees as he asks the question most forefront in his mind. ]

...Does the word “Batman” mean anything to you?

*quietly* i love this so much

[menarebrave]

[ This Bruce hasn't encountered the multiverse just yet, but, if plans are true then he will be. His eyebrows narrow at the question. Not necessarily the question, but how he asks it, how he phrases it. The look of suspicion across his face should be enough of an answer right away.

Except, they're in public. Which means that persona is out still. ]

That's the vigilante Gotham has been going on about for years. [ Confirmation without really saying it. ] Can't say I've ever met him. We're usually not in the same room together.

Namely because I don't make a habit of knowing vigilantes.

Same, it’s so good

[officiallywhelmed]

[ It’s too familiar an answer to be a coincidence. And while this is the first he’s ever dealt with the multiverse himself, he’s dealt with enough that it doesn’t surprise him that much.

But being in public did complicate things a bit, and he can’t ask the questions he wants to know freely. ]

How about the name Richard Grayson? Does that ring any bells?

A-ahhh the BatDad feels. *hugs this thread*

[menarebrave]

[ Given Bruce is still Bruce, some of those answers may not be given freely regardless of location. Paranoia, trust, the usual.

Though, the younger man seems more aware of it than he should be. It's no secret that Bruce Wayne adopted the Grayson. since Nightwing was gonna happen and we just presume that Robin suit is Jason ;; ]

I haven't seen Dick in a long time. [ There's a hint of sadness there. They didn't part on the best terms. ] He moved out of Gotham.

Weeeeeeeeeeeh

[officiallywhelmed]

[ There’s a weight in his chest that eases, knowing that this Bruce still knows a Dick Grayson. But the sadness in his tone that stalls him a moment, before he reaches up and removes his sunglasses.

Then he looks up at Bruce with bright, wide blue eyes. ]

That...hasn’t happened to us yet where I’m from.

OH GOSH MY HEART

[menarebrave]

[ If he's surprised at all, Bruce does an amazing job at hiding it. He blinks once, a bit of a smile curling at the side of his face. It's been ages since Dick was that young--for him anyways. Before everything went bad. Before Joker and Harley... ]

Let's hope when you finally move on, it's on better terms. [ God, does that mean he's still Robin?

He inhales and looks around. ] The boardwalk isn't the best place to talk.

This is the BatDad thread my life has been missing

[officiallywhelmed]

[ That familiar faint smile brings one of his own to his face, even while Bruce’s words fill him with more questions.

Still, knowing they couldn’t discuss those things in public, he nods. ]

I’m open to suggestions.

I mean I may not be enabling, but definitely suggesting.....

[menarebrave]

[ Bruce smiles a bit more then turns to look around. He's on finite resources for now. Though his Dick was never one for fancy food - so he imagines that is the same. ]

I hear there's a good pizza joint near by. If you're up for it.

Ugh, it *is* tempting

[officiallywhelmed]

[ He eats as well as he can, for a teenager, mostly because Alfred makes sure he has a healthy diet. But he never turns down a slice. ]

Sounds good to me.

BatKids and the SpideyKids and BatDad, I'm just saying.

[menarebrave]

[ God, teenager. Bruce doesn't want to think about how old he looks at that moment. How beaten down, worn down. Trying to find all these metahumans and get what he can on them to form a team has been more draining than he realized.

Still -- off to the pizza point! And a booth, because they need to keep to themselves. Even if he's painfully overdressed. God I haven't watched Young Justice in YEARS ]

Man, I know. I still have someone else I was planning to app though so I’ll have to see

[officiallywhelmed]

[ He follows slightly behind, making note of the different stores and landmarks. It’s a small place, but it all seems pretty relaxed.

Unlike the Bruce in front of him, who seems even warier than usual. Maybe even weary, and it doesn’t seem to have anything to do with how much older he looks.

He waits for now, though, sliding into one of the booths that they find in the back of the pizza place. Nice and secluded, and with a good view of people who might need to approach the table. ]

Completely fine!! Bruce is on memes all the time :)

[menarebrave]

[ He glances at the staff, nodding in thanks as they deliver menus and take the drinks. The classic Bruce Wayne smile is on display, then melts the moment the writer's back is turned. He looks at Dick, knowing he should try to look a bit better.

But, the Dick he raised could always tell when he was lying. He doesn't see why this would be any different. ]

You had questions.

Awesome! I’ll try to hit him up next time I see him =3

[officiallywhelmed]

[ He’d debated putting his sunglasses back on, but instead they’re tucked into the pocket of his hoodie. He wants to be able to talk without any barriers as best as possible.

Because this is Bruce, after all. There’s always some kind of wall up, no matter what.

But he keeps his eyes on the menu for now, even though he’s not really seeing anything on it. There are so many things he wants to ask, but his thoughts are all jumbled together and seem to refuse to be sorted into anything coherent. ]

...I’m fourteen. [ It’s probably a strange way to start, but it’s at least something as he finally looks back up at Bruce. ] How long ago was that for you?