Re: Mini-Grand 5101 [Round 1: RMS Titanic]
06-16-2011, 09:38 PM
Originally posted on MSPA by BlastYoBoots.
"Whoa there, Leeroy," Nate cautioned, turning Bartleby back to the ship's railing. "It'll take a lot more than confidence to stop that cyborg. See this?" He thumbed the rifle strapped across his back. "It can punch through bulletproof glass, but didn't make a dent in his body."
"You shot him? To kill?" Bartleby looked perturbed, but then seemed to mull it over. "So, just how bad is this guy?"
Another muffled explosion rocked outward from the ship's belly. "That answer your question?"
"Well, why are we waiting, then? You said people were dying, lots of people!"
"Because this is the Titanic."
Bartleby clearly didn't follow.
"The Titanic's a historical disaster. Some midnight on its first departure, it hits an iceberg and splits in two. Just about everyone died or something, over a thousand people."
At the staggering figure, the Flux's reaction was somewhere between apoplectic and mortified. "...Fuck!"
"So... yeah. We're saving ghosts. Instead of hurrying in, remember that we're probably the only ones who can stop him. We have to do this right. Agreed?"
Still pale, he reluctantly did so.
"Our cyborg has a big glowing weak spot in the center of his body. Bullets didn't crack it, but they made him sweat a bit. We need to find something heavier to punch through him..." Nate struggled to think of suitable naval devices. "Harpoons! A harpoon gun would do it. Think this ship would have one?"
'Used' to the situation of death as Bartleby was, the weight of its newfound permanence gave the 'punching through' metaphor a sickening undertone of amorality. His discomfort wasn't lost on Nate.
Modern RPGs tended to have bisexual NPCs, nowadays, in fairness to those of varying genders and sexualities; playing off-gender is more difficult in Virtual Reality, so adapting the characters to varying players rather than vice-versa was simply straightforward. The prevalence of gene therapy that could adjust or broaden one's gender leanings kept this from becoming too large a moral issue. If a character was meant to be a romantic option, you'd have a shot no matter who you were.
Bartleby was looking rather frazzled; a dash of romantic drama might be enough to distract him from his troubles, keep him on Nathan's side. And besides, he looked pretty good. A few inches taller than me, a natural ginger, seems to have a nice face under that silly beard. I guess it's worth a try.
"Don't worry," soothed Nathan. He put an arm around Bartleby's back, turning him to bask in the glow of the rapidly setting sun over the front railing of the Titanic. Facing him, he set his pink eyes on Bartleby's, and smiled. "We'll get through this."
Unfortunately, Bartleby seemed completely oblivious to the advance. Dammit! IRL, the pink eyes usually drive the guys crazy.
"What's that?" Nate turned his gaze to the sky, finding Kekarie circling the ship. "Ah, maybe the bird'll join us, too. I'll signal it."
Bartleby hesitated. Maybe that's not the best idea.
"Whoa there, Leeroy," Nate cautioned, turning Bartleby back to the ship's railing. "It'll take a lot more than confidence to stop that cyborg. See this?" He thumbed the rifle strapped across his back. "It can punch through bulletproof glass, but didn't make a dent in his body."
"You shot him? To kill?" Bartleby looked perturbed, but then seemed to mull it over. "So, just how bad is this guy?"
Another muffled explosion rocked outward from the ship's belly. "That answer your question?"
"Well, why are we waiting, then? You said people were dying, lots of people!"
"Because this is the Titanic."
Bartleby clearly didn't follow.
"The Titanic's a historical disaster. Some midnight on its first departure, it hits an iceberg and splits in two. Just about everyone died or something, over a thousand people."
At the staggering figure, the Flux's reaction was somewhere between apoplectic and mortified. "...Fuck!"
"So... yeah. We're saving ghosts. Instead of hurrying in, remember that we're probably the only ones who can stop him. We have to do this right. Agreed?"
Still pale, he reluctantly did so.
"Our cyborg has a big glowing weak spot in the center of his body. Bullets didn't crack it, but they made him sweat a bit. We need to find something heavier to punch through him..." Nate struggled to think of suitable naval devices. "Harpoons! A harpoon gun would do it. Think this ship would have one?"
'Used' to the situation of death as Bartleby was, the weight of its newfound permanence gave the 'punching through' metaphor a sickening undertone of amorality. His discomfort wasn't lost on Nate.
Modern RPGs tended to have bisexual NPCs, nowadays, in fairness to those of varying genders and sexualities; playing off-gender is more difficult in Virtual Reality, so adapting the characters to varying players rather than vice-versa was simply straightforward. The prevalence of gene therapy that could adjust or broaden one's gender leanings kept this from becoming too large a moral issue. If a character was meant to be a romantic option, you'd have a shot no matter who you were.
Bartleby was looking rather frazzled; a dash of romantic drama might be enough to distract him from his troubles, keep him on Nathan's side. And besides, he looked pretty good. A few inches taller than me, a natural ginger, seems to have a nice face under that silly beard. I guess it's worth a try.
"Don't worry," soothed Nathan. He put an arm around Bartleby's back, turning him to bask in the glow of the rapidly setting sun over the front railing of the Titanic. Facing him, he set his pink eyes on Bartleby's, and smiled. "We'll get through this."
Unfortunately, Bartleby seemed completely oblivious to the advance. Dammit! IRL, the pink eyes usually drive the guys crazy.
"What's that?" Nate turned his gaze to the sky, finding Kekarie circling the ship. "Ah, maybe the bird'll join us, too. I'll signal it."
Bartleby hesitated. Maybe that's not the best idea.