EARTH 24*(&A$%7HGKPOI

[capemods]

WHO: All transdimensional imPorts.
WHERE: The town of Capers.
WHEN: October 24th, noon, to October 29th, noon.
WARNINGS: Probably violence, but alert me if something else evolves and I can update this.
SUMMARY: Lachesis pulls a group of Cityverse imPorts into another world adventure -- here be the wilds of the west, and dinosaurs!
FORMAT: As you please!



You arrive at the town of Capers from one split second to the next -- from the asphalt and concrete of the City to the dusty and earthen dirt of this wildwood space. The sun is hot and the sky is streaked with thin clouds. The landscape of the town is sparse, utilitarian; you'll find saloons and dance halls, quarries and fenced corrals, the local gaol and the hanging scaffold, the shops and medical facilities (barbershop included). In fact, the logwood architecture of the buildings direct into those four major categories, and the structure of the town forms something circular, much like a compass. You might have been ported in at any of these places, as Lachesis would have delivered you at random.

The sun in the sky burns a golden yellow, peering down at you like some celestial eyeball. Almost feels like it's watching you.

You're wearing your clothes and you've got your communicator on you, but that's about it. You can still contact the Network, but you cannot leave this world. And since you look like such an outsider, it takes only a few moments for you to be ushered by local Samaritans to the Capers Town Hall. There, in his white suit and black belt, stands Mayor Eisner -- and he greets you warmly. He tells you that Capers is used to extradimensional pioneers, and he's happy to invite you into his town. But for a town like his to survive at this unilateral crossroads, certain customs must be observed -- you understand, there's a method of expectation that enables order. You might catch glimpses of other imPorts filing in, being escorted by the kindly souls they came across. Mayor Eisner asks you your name and your favorite color. He asks you if you're a spiritual individual, or more secular. He asks you about the first animal that comes into your mind.

Then he ponders your face for a moment.

Then, with a strong and genuine pat on your shoulder, he tells you who you are, in his town of Capers.

You are free to reject or accept the role, but that all comes with respective consequences.

Welcome to Capers, hero.

Comments

[incywincyhero]

The roofs here weren't anywhere near as high as Spider-Man was used to, but they still made for good lookout points -- not to mention, decent refuges from the harassment of the townspeople. None of them could really hurt him, of course, but "tedious" didn't even begin to describe how tiresome the constant stream of abuse had become.

The downside of hiding out was that there wasn't much to do up there, either. Even dinosaur-watching lost its luster after a while. When Spidey finally saw a familiar face (in a manner of speaking) crossing the street below, it was with no small sense of relief that he hopped down to say hello.

"Professor, that you?"

[heal_or_execute]

Salarian reflexes and perceptions were significantly faster than those of humans. Mordin started visibly when Spider-Man dropped down, but relaxed just as quickly when he saw who it was. He wasn't terribly familiar with Spider-Man- it wasn't as though he did science with him every day or anything- but he knew the superhero wasn't a threat.

"Marshal, currently, but yes," he said, nodding in greeting. "Hello Spider-Man. Heard you've been having some trouble." Technically he was supposed to apprehend this particular 'varmint' on sight, but since there didn't seem to be any witnesses to his poor job performance around, the Marshal wasn't going to worry about it.

[incywincyhero]

Spider-Man had been drawing near, but hesitated at that announcement. He's pretty sure Mordin hasn't bought into the whole Pleasantville with Six-Shooters mindset, but things have been strange enough that he'd prefer to double check. "How many lawmakers do they need around this place, anyway? I've already met a Deputy Sheriff, and once you add in the actual... this town ain't that big."

[heal_or_execute]

Mordin had noticed that as well, and naturally had a voluminous theory prepared to explain it based on scientific observations and cultural contexts.

"Not surprising, really," he said. "Town accustomed to visitors from other dimensions. Multiversal crossroads. Must be used to dealing with the unexpected: dangers, crises. May resemble City in that respect." The comparison made him smile a bit. "Dinosaurs also problematic from a safety perspective. Necessitates heightened law enforcement. Maintain order, keep visitors and residents safe." It was a pity such a sensible perspective had to be spoiled with counterproductive harshness over 'roles', in Mordin's view.

[incywincyhero]

"...Okay, you may have a point or three there," Spider-Man agreed. "I'm not so big on the conscription part, though -- at least Lachesis doesn't make be whatever she decides is a hero." Though she certainly tried to stack the deck in her favor, especially in recent months.

[heal_or_execute]

"True," Mordin said. "Aside from kidnappings, Lachesis generally favours self-directed action. No assignments or structure to ImPort community. Can result in chaos- but, no pointless arrest warrants for refusing jobs, either."

On that note, Mordin looked down and coughed awkwardly. "By the way- technically supposed to arrest you. 'Menace to society.'" Air quotes! "Not going to, of course. May have to simply put on show for townspeople. Play along to maintain position."

[incywincyhero]

"Boy, have I heard that one before. 'Course, if Jonah Jameson were here I'd have had to take the job just to spite him. Oh, man, the look on his face if I were a town official..."

He cut his rambling short with an embarrassed shrug, and stepped closer, looking around to check for onlookers. "Right, so how do we do this? Do I just say that 'I'll come quietly, Officer!' really loudly, or did you have something else in mind?"

[heal_or_execute]

Mordin started to stretch his legs, warming up for the show. He was comfortable doing this kind of thing. It was just like being on stage, really, a bit of improv work.

"Suggest I chase you across the street, then 'trip.' You make a narrow getaway, townspeople witness dedicated official making honest effort to catch fugitives." Mordin smiled, looking forward to it. "Help convince them I'm on their side, lets you stay free."

[incywincyhero]

"Sounds good, Prof. Thanks for this," Spidey said, then raised his voice to carry. "You'll never take me alive, Marshall!"

He broke and ran down the street, arms and legs pumping furiously -- though not efficiently, given his rate of progress.

[heal_or_execute]

"Happy to help," Mordin replied. Then he took a deep breath. For any performer, the key to delivering credible dialogue was to speak from the diaphragm and project.

"Halt, miscreant! In the name of the law!"

Mordin had a pretty good authoritative bellow- benefits of teaching experience. He took off after Spider-Man, waving his badge in the air, the very picture of a dedicated yet ineffectual lawman.

[incywincyhero]

Helluva set of lungs on that guy, Spidey thought, impressed. Especially since he wasn't sure Mordin had lungs.

He skidded around the corner, kicking up a generous quantity of trail dust sucked up by an unfortunate hostler. Spidey kept going, ignoring the four-letter imprecations the man offered between coughs, and slid into a narrow alley between two buildings. In moments he'd skittered up the wall and curled up under the eaves.

[heal_or_execute]

He did have lungs! They were just in... different places...

At any rate, Mordin kept charging after the criminal he was very dutifully pursuing until he saw that Spider-Man was about to go for the alley. He chose that moment to run smack into the irate hostler, bowling both of them over- and absolving the Marshal of any responsibility in the fugitive's escape.

"Unacceptable. Completely unacceptable!" Mordin hauled himself to his feet, dusting off his lawman's clothes. He glared at the fallen hostler. "Interfering with pursuit! Sabotaging the law! Likely abetting the fugitive." He pointed dramatically at the unfortunate man, who now had bigger things to worry about than coughs. "Ought to run you in right now!"

While he wrapped up his performance, Mordin spared a glance upward, hoping to confirm that Spider-Man had indeed gotten away.

[incywincyhero]

Spider-Man cocked his head, then mock-winced-- Don't be too hard on the poor guy, huh? He waggled his fingers in a wave goodbye, then crawled up and over the edge of the roof, vanishing from sight.

Mordin was a swell guy. He'd have to do something nice for him when they got back to the City. Whenever that was.