While the villains are away...

[thalassino]

Seems like crime has taken a step up from just purse-snatching or someone stealing forty cakes when no one was looking. Those with a great sense of hearing or who happen to be at the wrong place at the right time will find that the good people of Vatheon are in danger. It's up to anyone who is willing to help to work together to save the day!




-Carol-

[In the lower district there were these warehouses lining along the barrier’s wall. One of them had a large neon sign with the words “Villains are here” flashing in lights. Anyone investigating the outside of the building will hear someone yelling for help.

Even if it’s obviously a trap, a hero must do their duty. And maybe clues about the real location of the nest of villains could be found.

The warehouse has been converted to a giant fun house with Indiana Jone’s Raiders of the Last Ark type traps. Getting help with navigating through this maze of traps and nurse themed goons would definitely be a good idea.

At the end of the maze, should people succeed, they will find Carol.]





-Hostage Hotel-

[A message will flash across the Starfish communicator asking for help.]

Help. At the Hotel they have guns

[Any messages sent in response will not be answered.

Seems that the city’s hotel has been taken over. The police are making a barrier and trying to negotiate, without any luck, with the crooks. They have the hotel owners and a their guests hostage on the top floor. They are armed, and very dangerous. Their demands include an escape route and a suitcase full of money.

Are you there to save the day or just get the scoop? Work together with the police or other heroes to save the day.]




-Like a bandit-

[There seems to be a burglar committing a string of crimes. They stole a rather large diamond from the jewelry store, money from the casino, and snatched a vase from an auction house. Thy only thing was a picture or a riddle for the scene of the next crime. The police are refusing to release the previous clues, but a reporter has managed to get a picture of the new message.]

What has branches and leaves and no bark?




-Anonymous Voice-

[A voice can be heard over everyone's communicator in the morning.]

There are twenty bombs hidden all over the city’s park. They will go off in a half hour. Find them before someone gets hurt.

[The caller might be using a synthesizer to disguise their voice, but locating them shouldn’t be a priority yet. Get those bombs out of the park before time runs out. Super speed or getting help would be beneficial for the ducks. Think of the ducks please.]



[They may also wind up stumbling or following a goon back to the actual secret base to listen in on a meeting at their own risk. Good luck!

((If you are open to being threadjacked, then please put Open in your subject line. If you have an idea already and want to play it out with a particular group of people, then please put Closed in your subject. Thank you.

Have fun playing out the scenarios, and feel free to drop a note in the subject line if Carol or the hotel owners are needed or if you believe characters may have solved the riddle! The location of the bombs is random and characters are encouraged to locate and defuse them on their own.))

Comments

[croceamors]

The last one was very informative.

...And also amusing.

[And so terribly terribly addictive.]

[flared]

Huh. You found something amusing? Wow, it must've been a hell of a movie.

[He scoots over and pats the seat beside him.]

Get over here.

[croceamors]

People kept getting skewered. Also, they faked human emotion even worse than me.

[...His sense of humor is slightly skewed.]

[Regardless, he shuffles back into the living room, bowl of popcorn held in his blanketed hands, and fumbles his way onto the sofa.]

This also involves giant maneating fish, I believe.

[flared]

[His sense of humor is skewered, you mean. Ah? Ahhh?

Reaching over, he snags a couple of pieces for himself. Good, they're not burned at all.]

Sooo, you think people getting hurt is funny?

[croceamors]

[Look at him, able to perform basic mundane tasks and everything! Also, you're banned from puns.]

Mm. A little bit. I think it depends.

[flared]

[He falls silent for a while. Hm. He supposes that he can't really change what Saix's sense of humor is. It's different for everyone... He likes stupid puns, for example.]

Well... you know that other people getting hurt is a pretty serious thing, right?

[croceamors]

Judging by the negative reactions those being hurt give, then I think I can understand that. And that throwing cars is discouraged.

[See, he remembers these things.]

[flared]

[Well, at least he gets it. ... But that doesn't mean that Axel won't worry. He sighs, deciding to leave it alone for now, then turns to look back at the TV to watch this... strange thing.]

Good.

... 'm proud of you.

[croceamors]

[Great thing. You mean great thing.]

...It's nice.

[He kind of. leans against him. for that.]

It's nice to be appreciated like that.

[flared]

Well... you deserve it. Anyone who works hard like you do does.

[Munch munch munch popcorn]

Wouldn't you agree?

[croceamors]

I wouldn't be able to say.

[Next time Axel reaches for the popcorn, Saix plans on smacking his hand away. His turn, you pig.]

I'm used to working and not deserving 'anything' besides a continued existence.

[flared]

[Reaaaaaaching over... hey. Rude. But he's willing to let that go because his little boo ghost friend over here is just too precious to get angry at ever.]

Well, now you know.

Existing is nice and all, but in the end... that can't really keep someone happy on its own. Sometimes you need a little more than that, and that's ok.

... Does that make any sense?

[croceamors]

I suppose so.

But that's something hard to realize when you're on your own, and you don't know what 'happiness' is, or anything close to it. It's hard when you're created thinking you're nothing but a puppet. If you're told you can't be happy, and nothing triggers that response in you, how long do you go on believing it?

[He knows the answer, of course- until someone finds you, and convinces you there's something better. Until someone sees past how you're just another minion, another puppet, and tries to help. Thinking back on it, that's not the kind of life he'd want to choose, knowing what he does now. Experiencing what he can experience now.]

[Whups, time to shovel some popcorn in his mouth, he's trying to pay attention to the movie at the same time too.]

[flared]

Until someone comes along to help you.

[Like himself. But Axel doesn't really want to think of himself as a superhero for that. He was just... doing the right thing, doing what any human being with a right mind would do. That's nothing heroic.]

... Are you happy now?

[croceamors]

I don't know.

[He rolls a piece of popcorn inbetween his fingertips.]

I know something's changed, but how do you know if that's happiness? Either way... I suppose I like it, whatever it is.

[flared]

If something makes you feel at peace and comfortable with everything around you, then that's happiness. It should just feel generally... good.

[Axel tries to steal that piece of popcorn Saix is fiddling around with. Don't play with your food.]

[croceamors]

Well, I wouldn't say everything..

[Hand smack! Get your own, asshole.]

But I think I'm at peace when I'm with you.

[flared]

Ah-

[Pause... oh.]

... Really?

[croceamors]

Yes.

[What, did he say something weird? Sorry, he's too busy kind of leaning against you as he stays engrossed in this horrible beautiful movie. Oh joy, they're going into the swamps! Yes excellent. He hopes more people get eaten soon.]

It's nice.

[flared]

[The leaning against thing he can deal with... but you getting some strange enjoyment out of watching people get ate-]

Then- that's good.

[Leaaaaaan]

I'm glad I can be here for you.

[croceamors]

[It's Darwin's Law in action, alright. Let him have his petty sadistic moments.]

[Saix is content to leave the conversation at that, but after a few minutes, something comes to mind. He just waits until there's a commercial break before he says anything, however.]

...Do I make you happy?

[flared]

[And Murphy's Law, ey.

Axel watches in silence, not... really sure what to make of this ridiculous film just yet, then when there's a commercial break he sighs and stretches a bit, feeling tired again. He might take a nap in a bit. Again.

But then he hears that and perks up.]

Huh? Well... yeah. 'course you do.

[croceamors]

'Of course I do'?

[He hadn't realized it was so obvious.]

[flared]

[Awkward head scratch]

We've been through a lot together.

[Is it getting hot in here or is it just Axel? ... Well, it's a bit of both since he's starting to feel a little embarrassed.]

You're my friend.

[croceamors]

[If it keeps getting hotter, he's going to have to get rid of all these blankets. Either way, he makes a small noise under his breath.]

That's what I had thought, but I didn't want to use that word wrong. I'm glad we're friends.