progress city test drive #3

[progressmods]

TEST DRIVE MEME

Here You Leave Today And Enter The World Of Yesterday, Tomorrow And Fantasy. Welcome to Progress City's second test drive meme! This game is a panfandom jamjar set in a flux dimension inspired by Disney Theme Parks (particularly Walt Disney World in Florida) and the original concept for EPCOT (a city that would connect to the theme parks). Whether you're looking to join us or are just here to play around for a little bit, we have a few prompts below for you - but you're also free to come up with your own! Reserves are always open!

Prompt A Whatever you're doing, wherever you are, you find a vintage-looking ticket. The next time you blink or close your eyes for any reason, you open them and find yourself somewhere else - Progress City's Ticket and Transportation Center. You have no idea how you got here, and definitely don't know how you got this weird thing on your wrist... You'll learn, eventually, that Progress City and it's world-class themeparks are a popular tourist dimension across this universe. People can get in here very easily, but for some reason, that unremovable band on your wrist isn't allowing you to use their transporters to get home. To compensate, you'll be offered a job in the parks and free housing for the duration of your stay. Is that something you're willing to take?

Prompt B While you're here, you might as well spend some time around the theme parks in your downtime. It's easy enough to get to them - the city offers free 24/7 monorail and peoplemover transportation to each park, and you also get a free annual pass for yourself with your stay (lucky you)! If you're at all familiar with Walt Disney World, these four parks will seem...remarkably familiar to you. But there's little subtle differences here and there that that make this seem different - and the ones in charge will seem confused by the concept of a "Walt Disney World". Must be a thing about different dimensions. Nevertheless, you're still going to have the occasional bit of free time here, so there's plenty to see and do here across all four areas. Go ride some rides and eat some Dole Whip, you crazy kids.

Prompt C With the housing, you also get offered a job by Progress City's mayor. Maybe you decide to take it, maybe you don't, he's not gonna kick you out of your apartment unless you deserve it. But this poses a good way to get some actual money. You'll be matched to a job around the resort - hopefully one you enjoy. You could end up working in the parks as a ride operator, serving food, managing a shop, working security, or ending up as a pool lifeguard. There are a number of possibilities here, and you can always change your job later on if you find one that may suit you more.

Prompt D Over time, the thing on your wrist changes. Namely, it'll start taking on new colors, designs and occasionally icons that reflect your character's personality and appearance. You'll find that by concentrating you'll be able to utilize your band to... cast magic spells, of all things. These also seem tailored to your character - summoning weapons, creating projectiles, putting foes to sleep? It seems that no two bands are alike when it comes to this. ...Occasionally, you'll spot one or two small ink blot-like creatures scurrying about the city or the parks, creating an inky mess and leaving a small amount of chaos in it's wake. Those don't seem advertised. Perhaps they'd be good to try out your new abilities on, or maybe you'd prefer to practice a little bit first.

Prompt E Every now and again, the city will host a Festival! Progress City prides itself in making festivals with great food and drink, and will happily let its citizens enjoy it for a nice discount! You can either look up examples of Disney festival treats or make up some yourself, but rest assured, everything you order will be simply amazing. If you're not too busy getting drunk to stand, there are also other events you can participate in! There are also small events your character can participate in! In this hypothetical festival, your character can take a cooking class, attend a seminar to learn basic magic tricks (with real magic!), or try out a fancy new VR game where you fight against other players as giant robots.

Wildcard As always, feel free to come up with your own scenario if none of these inspire you!

Comments

[abnormalsoon]

[Let him answer that question with another question.]

Have you considered you're beyond help?

The human mind isn't really built for slipping between layer upon layer of different reality. It can only take so much before it explodes which, by the way, the blown up human brain looks a lot like General Tsao's! Seriously! There's a reason they use that for movie effects.

[tibet]

It's crossed my mind once or twice. I'd like to think I've been doing a well enough job of it.

[He's a chatty little thing, this Bill, very unlike the little man and the Giant. This is the sort of entity Cooper is completely unused to dealing with, blunt and straightforward when he should be cryptic, so he feels that matching that attitude is only fitting. Otherwise, yeah. Head exploding.]

That being said, I thought they used cauliflower and syrup.

Pete | Mickey Mouse Shorts

[stinkypete]

Prompt B

[While wandering the streets of Progress City, you may stumble upon a large cat (?) committing various illegal acts, such as spray painting "PETE WUZ HERE" on the sides of buildings, stealing any sort of Mickey Mouse merchandise he can find, knocking over garbage cans, and loitering. One might hear him mutter under his breath--]

Disney World, pah! More like Mickey Mouse's World--darn place don't even have anything dedicated to me! Mickey would've never gotten to where he was without me! I should be on everything here! Why, if he were here, I'd--

[He doesn't seem to notice his surroundings as he continues to blatantly commit these crimes.]

Prompt C

[Pete was assigned security detail when he arrived in Progress City, and, to be honest, he's really, really enjoying his job. Maybe a little too much, if you ask anyone else.]

HEY, YOU! [He points an accusatory finger at someone who's passing by. He stomps on up to them, drawing himself up to loom over the other person's head.] I saws you breakin' the rules! Unless you wanna get punished, you're gonna give me all your cards right now!

[security is like, a totally legal way to mug people, right?]

Wildcard

[Today, Pete is well groomed and clean-shaven. The neat, checkered tie around his neck looks completely alien on him. His chin held high, the cat clears his throat and walks up to a nearby microphone to speak.]

Citizens of Progress City! Are you tired of the empty promises that your candidates make, only to break them upon entering office? Are you tired of phonies who won't even perform the most basic mayoral duties?

If you want a mayor that'll make some REAL changes around here, that'll listen to the people, vote for Mayor Peg-Leg Pete, your very best friend!

[He winks at the crowd, his grin a bit too wide.]

wildcard

[andbegone]

BOOOOOO.

[Spoken from the very front of the crowd. The boo-er in question very clearly elbows the person next to him, leaning over to speak not at all discreetly about just how he feels about Pete's campaign attempt.]

My campaign speech was better.

[stinkypete]

[Pete leans against the podium, which audibly creaks under his weight. His grin grows wider, more dangerous.]

Well, lookit that, folks! The great ex-mayor himself, Plankton! Tell me, ex-mayor, if your speech was so much better, how come you got impeached a month after you were voted in, hm? Not to mention those rumors I heard 'bout you bein' a furry.

[andbegone]

The speech gets you elected, it's not like a guarantee that you'll-- excuse me?

[His voice raises a whole octave.]

Rumors about me being a what?

[stinkypete]

You heard me: A. Furry.

[Pete leans back, adjusting his tie ever so slightly.]

I know, I know, rumors can be harsh sometimes, but...rumors do tend to be based upon the truth. And I, for one, would never want a furry as mayor. Just think of the children!

[andbegone]

[Look he doesn't claim to understand any of the toons in this city or their logic but this. This is just absurd.]

...You're a cat. You are by definition a furry.

[stinkypete]

[Pete gasps dramatically, clutching his chest.]

Such horrible accusations! Why, how could you even think to compare me to those...those weirdos? Pretending to be toons when they're not...it's bizarre!

...But you, my dear ex-mayor, yes, YOU have been accused of walking about on all fours, covered in fur! Is that not furry behavior?

[andbegone]

[is this what it's like for other people to try and talk to him, he wonders]

Okay, I'm sorry, can we take a step back here? Just two seconds. Having fur isn't. Exclusive. To-- look, I'm just not seeing the whole connection between toons and furries.

[stinkypete]

Well, isn't it obvious? Toon animals walk and talk and go 'bout their business just like you non-toons. Furries are when you have non-toons that pretend that they're animals! Except they walk and talk like us toons!

[He scowls. Obviously.] Honestly, the disregard you have for toons in a city that was built on their backs--you oughta be ashamed of yourself!

[Is he being serious? Is he just trying to goad Plankton? We may never know.]

[andbegone]

Humans are animals.

[See he can be purposefully difficult too, they can do this shit all day if they have to.]

And you did not have anything to do with building this city. I don't think any of you did.

[stinkypete]

Are they, though?

[Two unstoppable forces meet. What happens? This.]

Well, that's just typical! Of course Mr. Serling never told you all about the rich history of toons. Leave a robot to teach the citizens of this city, huh?

[He leans in close to whisper to Plankton:] Have you ever heard of the name Mickey Mouse?

[andbegone]

Yes. They are. They literally are.

[he's going to throw a fucking encyclopedia at his head

He doesn't actually have any commentary on Rod because. Well. He's not his biggest fan. But also he doesn't want to give Pete the satisfaction of agreeing with him, so instead he leans back when he's whispered to.]

Uh, no. I haven't.

[stinkypete]

Ah, but you've forgotten one important thing--humans don't have fur.

[His grin stretches across his whole face. Forget debating about humans, talking about toons is much more exciting! Especially about someone who's never heard of Mickey Mouse!]

Mickey Mouse is Disney's most beloved toon star, and this place is based off of Disney World, is it not? Lotsa people say that if it weren't for Mickey, there wouldn't be no Disney. But they's forgetting that I've been around for longer than Mickey has! Heck, I was even busy botherin' his lil' brother, Oswald, before he got the boot! If anything, it's me who's helped build this city, not him. Every hero needs a villain, and if I hadn't been playing my part, Mickey would've never taken off!

[He crosses his arms, looking smug.] So, really, I'm the best choice for mayor, being both a founding toon and the people's best friend.

[andbegone]

[Okay but. Hair-- never mind he doesn't want to bother with this argument.]

Mickey Mouse? What, like it's that hard to play villain to a mouse? Pfft. Please. Bragging about how old you are isn't actually going to win any favors, you know. And it definitely doesn't make you the people's best friend.

B

[twoswordsmaybemore]

[Wade's just gonna pick up one of the fallen trashcans and put his dole whip cup in it.]

Personally? I'm more of a Donald Duck kinda guy. I mean, don't get me wrong, you're cool too. It's just... Donald is way more iconic than you or Mickey.

[theduck]

That's what I've been saying this whole time!

C

[ur_1]

Cease your jabbering, fool.

[Simon's still got his fucking handcuffs on, give him a break. He's been here for like 10 minutes at the most. He refuses to backdown, matching Pete's glare with one of his own.]

What rule do you claim that I broke?

[stinkypete]

[That grin that seemed permanently fixed on Pete's face quickly vanishes.]

Please, I'd like to see you last just as long in show biz! And perhaps the people'll change their minds after I buy them all FREE DOLE WHIP FOR LIFE!

[He turns to yell that out to the crowd. A few people cheer.]

[stinkypete]

[Donald Duck? At least that guy gets stuck with all the bad luck. Pete pauses, turning to look at the guy who's just undone his handiwork. He scratches his beard, squinting.]

...Do I know you?

[Is he one of those superhero fellas that keep showing up all over the place? He must be.]

[stinkypete]

[Pete crosses his arms, smirking. A tough guy, huh? Well, no matter, there's no way he can't out-law this weird emo dude!]

You, sir, were unlawfully loitering and being a general nuisance to the people. Why, imagine if someone wanted to walk there, only to find that you were there, standin' around and blocking the path! Terribly inconsiderate AND illegal!

[he's...not actually sure if there are any REAL laws in progress city but its fine]

[ur_1]

...

[He crosses his arms, unimpressed.]

I was standing outside the shop window, admiring the merchandise, and about to step inside. All that you have done is prevent me from moving, and cause a bigger loitering issue. By blocking the doorway yourself.

If you consider standing in one place for under a minute to be a crime, then I am afraid you have broken that rule, yourself.

[By the way, the "merchandise" in question is a plush hawk. Of course.]

[stinkypete]

Cops are allowed to break whatever rules they want! Besides, if you hadn't been standing here, I wouldn't have to block the path while trying to apprehend you. So, really, you're causing even more obstrusion...obstaclation...

[He gives up trying to find a word and slams his fist against the palm of his hand.]

You're standing in the way of the fist of justice!

[ur_1]

Sounds like a corrupt philosophy to me. But then, I don't expect the police force to hold high standards of morality.

[simon blackquill antifa icon]

So, you would arrest an innocent citizen attempting to buy goods in the area? The local storeowners must adore you.