It's a great day for something new. As the sun climbs high in the sky on the morning of the first of October, Mayor Drake and her cohorts can be found standing in front of a particularly unimpressive-looking shop just outside of the university's scientific research wing. Should you happen to wander by, you'll have the pleasure of enjoying a first in Cadelle's recent history — a grand opening celebration! While the shop front itself is not much to write home about, the name alone implies what lies within is much more interesting.
METAMalt promises a wide variety of edible creations, ones sure to affect anyone who enjoys them. Yes, even you, new visitor with a metabolism enough for nearly a thousand tacos in one sitting. And yes, even you, strange new face with a penchant for chain-smoking to dull your senses. METAMalt's highly potent creations will be just right for those needing a little extra to get the job done.
Of course, those among you who find yourself leaning more on the side of statistically normal will appreciate the selection as well. Choose the neatly-labeled Standards and experience delicious, well-crafted drinks, sweets, and treats with no worries — the only side-effect you're likely to experience is a small hankering (some might call it a craving) for more. If you're feeling a bit braver, why not try the Enhanced options? While they're unlikely to cause any serious damage, you may find they offer a bit more than you were bargaining for...
▸ Vibrantly orange in color, The Emperor's New Brew tastes unsurprisingly of crisp, tart oranges with a hint of vanilla ice cream. It might remind you of a particularly refreshing summertime treat — and much like in the summer, less is certainly more when it comes to this brew. A warning statement is printed rather predominately on the label, as well, heeding potential drinkers to only enjoy this brew within the privacy of their own homes. Whether you choose to heed this warning or ignore it and take your first sip in the shop, each subsequent swallow will find the color draining from your clothes until they appear almost completely transparent... as if you're wearing nothing at all! The effects are (perhaps thankfully) short-lived, but who's to say you can't have more than one?
▸ METAMalt Lite's pale copper color might make it look a bit dull in comparison to its fellows on the shelf, but looks are often deceiving. With a floral aroma and a taste of freshly-picked raspberries, this particular brew might initially leave you wondering if you've perhaps picked up a bad batch. For the first few minutes, the only interesting side-effect is the fizz that lingers on your tongue and throat after each swallow, sharp and demanding; it's only when the clock strikes fifteen past that you'll find yourself feeling a little bit lighter. Look down, and you'll notice your feet slowly rising up, up, and away until you're (more than just a few) feet off the ground; test your limbs and you'll find you're practically weightless, as if gravity's been switched off only for you. Be careful, though — the effects only last a few hours, and what goes up must eventually come down!
▸ METAMalt Classic, with its faintly blue hue, is the flagship product of the shop, and the most prominently displayed. Designed with the recent crop of superpowered individuals in mind, this liquor is especially potent and highly concentrated. Unlike its first dozen or so incarnations during the testing phase, the finished product thankfully tastes less like pure rocket fuel and more like the fleeting memory of a good barrel-aged whiskey. While it's not particularly flavorful, a shot or two pairs well with a host of traditional mixers; if you heed the label's instructions, you'll enjoy a pleasant buzz regardless of your personal tolerance levels. Drink too much, and you might find yourself involuntarily taking a rather long nap... probably not anywhere too comfortable, either.
Beyond the allure of the glass beverages case and the neatly-arranged rows of pastry, snack bars, and other high-calorie and alternative-diet snacks, observant visitors may also notice a sign-up table near the back wall. Staffed by a rather uninterested looking woman in a lab coat, the table offers a selection of sign-up sheets for a variety of dates in the coming weeks, each described only by a particular color.
Should you ask more questions, you'll regrettably get no answers — "the details of each test will be revealed at that time," — and no real reassurance, either, beyond the simple fact that participants may opt out at any time. It's admittedly not a whole lot to go on, but maybe the promise of paid participation is enough to encourage you to sign up anyway.
▸ The gold test, scheduled for later in the afternoon on the very same day, has room for five guinea pigs participants. For those of you who were brave enough to attend the Energy Festival and request an extra-special drink from the bartenders, you may remember the small drops of golden liquid that were tipped into your cup. Attend the first test, and you'll have opportunity to be the first to experience the concentrated version of this liquor. The test itself is only an hour, but the effects are said to last twenty-four — just how lucky will you be?
▸ Held first thing Monday morning, the silver test has slots for up to ten early birds. In fact, it's so early that you might not have time to pick up your morning cup of joe before you swing by, but don't worry — you'll get plenty of caffeine when you try this new energy drink. While the can itself is traditionally silver, the stuff inside is anything but. Once you've taken that last fateful sip, you'll find yourself really ready to move — like, really ready. For the next few hours after the test concludes, once the staff has ensured your heart rate and blood pressure haven't skyrocketed too, you'll enjoy a period of extremely high productivity thanks to a burst of superspeed. Of course, if you already had superspeed, you might not be so lucky... maybe it's time for you to slow down for a change?
▸ Last but certainly not least, the bronze test — not to be missed and hopefully not to be forgotten, especially given its particularly late scheduling in the twilight hours of Friday night — has room for up to twenty-five eager, sober participants. The cup of chamomile tea offered to you is not exactly the most interesting drink in the world, but it tastes decent, and the follow-up questions posed by the researchers are fairly innocuous, if not completely unrelated to the flavor or other details of what you've drank. Strange as it may seem, for whatever reason, you feel particularly encouraged to be honest about said questions. Maybe you're just in a helpful mood. They are paying you, after all. Of course, being cooperative for monetary compensation is all well and good, but what about afterwards? For the next twenty-four hours, you'll find yourself compelled to continue that cooperative streak, agreeing to requests and answering honestly to anything that comes your way — however will you manage? Will you stay home, or will you venture to take advantage and learn a little more about your fellow participants in the process?
Feel free to come in, explore, and pick up a few treats (or maybe some tricks, too) while you're here. You never know what might happen!
Greetings, cuddlers, and welcome to October! As the start of our super spooky month of tricks and treats, we hope you enjoy this special event at our newest retail location, METAMalt. The shop is home to a variety of edible creations, from calorie-dense bars perfect for speedsters to synthetic blood in trendy flavors, as well as a selection of enhanced beers and liquors like the ones noted above.
Much like the treats offered during our Energy Festival, the Enhanced line of drinks and food will all have plentiful labels and signage available so characters can make informed decisions about their purchases and consumptions. Of course, not all characters are the "look before you leap" type, so whether your character abides or even notices said labels is up to you.
In regards to the testing sessions offered by METAMalt's research division, we'd like to remind you of a few important notes. Characters will be asked to sign a waiver, in which they release the testers and shop from any liability, and will be asked to arrive to the test fully sober and unaffected by any other influences. While they will know the color designation and scheduled time of their test in advance, they will not be given any information regarding what type of drink or the effects expected prior to the test itself. The effects are described for the benefits of our players, and should be a surprise to each character experiencing them.
As always, your mod team is here for you with answers to any questions you might have, whether related specifically to this event or the game in general. If you have any further questions specific to this event, we encourage you to ask away on our QUESTIONS COMMENT here in this post. If you have general questions, or prefer a more private venue, our GENERAL INBOX (and SCREENED INBOX) is always available for you. In addition, if you've got an idea for a future event, feel free to drop us a line at our EVENTS SUGGESTION POST.
We hope you have tons of fun out there this month, cuddlers, and we'll see ya around! |
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cuddlemods) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
cuddlecity2017-10-01 02:36 pm
i.
Not that she's not going to appreciate what's on display. And when the man in front of her blushes and attempts to hide himself, she can't help but grin, leaning against the bar as she considers the drinks herself. ]
Well, maybe you should keep drinking. You might not mind as much, that way. [ She gives an assessing look to the room, before she turns her eyes back to the man next to her. ] At least, you're not alone.
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It would take more tequila that this bar has to make me feel comfortable thinking I've stripped.
[He knows that he shouldn't be asking a strange woman this, but he needs to know how very bad the whole thing is.]
If I turn around, will you tell me if it's all the way around my body?
oh god i laughed so hard yes excellent
Should have paid a little attention to what drink you picked. [ It's a tease, holding no heat. And when he asks about turning around, Claire has to blush, chuckling. She has seen many a naked body in her time, and she's not really bothered with nudity, but the whole situation is... slightly unreal. ]
Sure, I'll tell you. [ And get a good look, too. ]
poor, poor man, and yet, we love it
[ A drink is a drink, as far as Vasquez is concerned; besides, he's never run up against anything that made your clothes fall off without you feeling them going. Alcohol is just that, alcohol, and he shouldn't have to worry about this. Until now. Scowling, he turns to give a full look, already dreading that he knows the answer. ]
Well? How bad is it?
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Yup, naked there too. But I wouldn't quite call it bad.
[ Despite not drinking herself, she can feel her cheeks warming up as she keeps looking at him, and when he turns back, she holds out a hand, feeling like it's the very least they can do. ]
I'm Claire. Feel like since I've seen you naked, we should probably know each other's names.
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Vasquez, usually I wait until I buy a beautiful woman a drink before I start taking my clothes off around her.
[Gesturing to the bottle, maybe he thinks that he should have asked these questions before.]
What did I drink?
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Well, you're welcome to buy me a drink, but I'm not complaining about getting a sneak peek.
[ Her eyes travel down his body again, obvious and teasing - amused. Then she glances at the bottles again, and their labels. ]
Looks like this distillery is using us all to experiment. It's only warning for people to drink it in private. [ Grinning, she raises an eyebrow. ] I think I probably shouldn't be joining you for one of these. Not here, anyway.
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No fairness amongst us? Chica, you wound me.
[He's only teasing, though, not expecting her to suddenly drink it and make the same mistake he did, just because he's an idiot who didn't think to study very tiny English words when he should have.]
Maybe you could find me somewhere more private to stand, though? I don't need everyone getting a look, not just yet.
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Now, now, you never know what could happen.
[ She's definitely not about to drink the same drink as him, especially not here, but she can't say he's turned her off in any way at all, either. He's definitely - different from the men she's used to.
Casting another look at the room, she nods, and then holds a hand out to him. ]
C'mon. There's a booth over there in the back that's empty, you'll have some cover until this wears off.
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[That seems like a fairly clear outcome, because the truth is, it's not like Vasquez had been very clever in the first place, not reading it, but he'd been thirsty and assumed it had been alcohol. That'll teach him to do that again. He's still trying to fade into the walls, hands over himself, even if from the waist up, he knows it's not a bad sight.
Well, it could be better. He's been living hungry for too many months and is probably on the skinny side, but he can fix that quickly.]
How long did the bottle say before I would stop being humiliated in public like this?
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[ At least, now they're in a less crowded, less bright part of the room, and he can sit soon enough, hiding his bottom half a lot better. He's right in thinking she's definitely not going to drink this anywhere near this crowded a place, but she was more thinking about him, seeing her naked at some point.
It could happen, still. So far, he's not made a bad impression. ]
What if we talked about something completely different? Maybe it's all psychosomatic, and the less you think about it, the quicker your clothes will reappear?
[ Getting to the booth, Claire sits, motioning for Vasquez to follow. ]
We can even talk in Spanish if you prefer.
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Please, if we could speak in Spanish, I think you would be my new best friend in this place.
[It's rapid-fire and with little chance to ease her in, mainly because it's making him feel comfortable when everything else around him is decidedly uncomfortable in how it chafes at him (or, well, no chafe, because there's no clothing).]
At least this won't be forever. I may be handsome, but I don't think even I could pull this off always.
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You know, there are entire villages where being nude is the norm, and clothes are mostly prohibited. In Europe. You should maybe look into it, I'm sure you'd be a hit over there.
[ She winks, feeling strangely comfortable for talking with a completely naked almost-stranger. ]
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I don't want to be a hit with anyone right now, also, I don't want to have to take a long trip over to Europe just to fit in.
[That does beg the question, where are they? He knows it's the future, but is he still in America? He laughs at the wink she gives him, unable to help it in this ridiculous situation.]
So, who are you, apart from my hero?
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You don't? Doesn't that defeat the purpose of coming to Cadelle? You're not getting your wish fulfilled if you're not wanting to be a hit with anyone.
[ At least, that's how she understands it. She may be wrong, but she's pretty sure physical intimacy is the quickest way to get a wish come true. ]
Claire. I'm from New York, I'm a nurse, the oldest of two. I don't like cats much. What about you?
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[No, that's probably a lie, too, if he's honest. His wish absolutely has to do with people, but it's more to do with not wanting them to be hunting him, which is still to do with people. It's strange, he thinks, but it's a good wish to come true.]
I just wanted to be safe. That's all. I haven't thought about my family in years, but I have sisters back home. I'm from Mexico, but now it's Texas. I used to be a farm hand. Not so much these days.
[Now, he's just a bandit.]
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[ If that's the case, then it is, indeed, very different from her own wish. Hers has to do with people, and doing good, and getting the city, and the people she loves, back on track.
When he says 'I'm from Mexico, but now it's Texas, Claire's eyebrows shoot up in surprise. ]
Are you saying you're from 1830?
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[He's not sure that he's ready for a whole history lesson about what's happened between then and now, but at some point, it's probably good for Vasquez to learn about all the things that happened in between. It's good, too, because he's distracted enough to not notice that he's only decent because of his palms covering himself and that his ass is still on display.]
My grandfather fought in 1836, back at the Alamo, in the Toluca Battalion. I can't claim to have done anything so good. Just a shade of that, really.
[Because defending from Bogue? It's not the same as defending your country.]
no subject
If it's my time, then 2015. I was born in 1981.
[ For a second, Claire wonders if Vasquez can read at all - English, at least. Maybe that's why he's in the position he's ended up in. So much is different, between the worlds they live in, and yet they're here, together, in the same place. Incredible. ]
You've done enough to be wanted, apparently.
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More than enough, promise. It's not like I did it all on purpose, but it happened. Now I'm here, being naked in front of a beautiful woman. I'm not sure if this is a good or bad thing.
[He flashes a smirk at her, because he can't help it, even in this humiliating position, he needs to flirt just a little.]
no subject
Her feelings on the matter were complicated, to say the least. ]
Well, from my perspective, it's a pretty good thing.
[ It's easy, to flirt back. It's easier than try and encapsulate over a hundred years of history that lies between them. He doesn't know about the World Wars, and he doesn't know about aliens, and the Avengers, and he doesn't even know about..... oh, so much, Claire wouldn't know where to start. ]
I can avert my eyes if that makes you more comfortable, though. Or we can sit, might be easier?
no subject
He glances back around his bottom, then to the bottle, wondering if there's something that says when it will end. He takes the bottle and hands it over to her.
Maybe you can see if it will go away soon?
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It says it's not to last very long, so I imagine you've suffered through most of it already. Depends on how much of it you drank, I think.
[ She glances down some more. ]
At least it seems like your clothes should still be on you, and reappear soon. It's not like they vanished, so you can be thankful for that.
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No, this is very good. I don't have any other clothes yet, these are the only ones there. If they vanished, I would be in trouble much longer than just a few swigs of a strange drink.
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[ Claire gives him a wink, grinning. ]
But do you want to attempt to escape and get back to your apartment? Or would you rather wait it out here? I can get something else to drink.
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