WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE

[maskormods]

WHO: ImPorts!
WHERE: All four cities.
WHEN: May 18-25
WHAT: Mayhem strikes as people get trapped in elevators, have to help out drowning, spoiled party people, rescue escaped zoo animals and have a ball with some unwanted song and dance. Have fun, everyone!
WARNINGS: None anticipated; let us know if this should be updated!



MAY 18 - 25
STUCK IN AN ELEVATOR
THE LOVE BUNNY
DE CHIMA

Wherever you happen to be in De Chima, as long as there's an elevator around, it's fair game. Are you visiting a friend in an apartment complex? Visiting a set of offices? Getting your teeth checked out? Or maybe there's a really rad, hidden comic book store you heard about on the top floor of the highest building in town! Whatever the reason, in the lobby, you'll see someone who looks like she's cosplaying, and having an absolute blast doing so. It's not entirely clear what she's cosplaying as, but nobody would dress like that on an everyday basis, right...?

If you write her off without thinking much about it, that wouldn't be much of a surprise; she's as innocuous as they get. She's a young, blonde woman - probably a teenager, though it's hard to tell - with her hair pulled into high pigtails, bangs pulled back with a headband with two bright pink bunny ears perched atop her head. The rest of her outfit is just as outrageously pink, a tight corset over a white t-shirt, a pleated pink skirt, go-go boots and thick black leggings with a bright pink wand (complete with a plastic bunny head attached to the tip) clutched tightly in one hand. Honestly, she looks to be a bit of a wreck, but that's only to be expected from someone young flexing their costume making skills for the first time.

It's only after you glide past her and onto the elevator that you realize that something's wrong. Halfway through your ascent or descent, the entire thing shudders, the lights flicker, and the gears slowly grind to a halt. The speaker in the elevator comes to life, somehow, and a bright, cheery giggle fills the elevator.

"Stop in the name of love! You've been caught byyyyyyyy... The Love Bunny! Cute, right? Just like me! I wish you could see how cute I am, but that would defeat the point, so you'll just have to take my word for it. The world's become such a dreary place, hasn't it? We spend so much time staring down at our phones that we never take the chance to look at each other, and find our one true loves!" She sighs, a dreamy, faraway sound. "Oh, but don't worry - I don't expect you to have to kiss. All sorts of love is beautiful, even if romance is the pinnacle of all love. I'm not letting you out, so you might as well try to get along! Toodles!"

If your characters don't manage to get out by the one hour mark, the speakers will come to life once again, this time with a distinct pout in the Love Bunny's voice. "Oh, poo, you're no fun. But I'm a hero, not a villain, so it's not like I'd trap you in there forever. Go on, and live your sad little loveless lives - just know that I'm rooting for you! Bye-byeeeee!" And with that, the building's electricity will come back to life, and your characters will be freed once more.


MAY 18 - 25
MUSICAL MAYHEM
The Copacabana Conductor
Maurtia Falls

Feel that fascinating rhythm moving to your feet? Feel your ass gyrating to that titillating beat? The answer is yes, yes you do. Whether you wanted to or not. The normally dangerous streets of Maurtia Falls have taken on an even more treacherous edge (for your dignity, at least). It started with a sudden, sharp up-tick in what appeared to be street performers. Then a couple acapella flash mobs. Some questioned whether acapella flash mob is even a thing, but who knows? Maybe some particularly deranged imPort brought the craze with them. The strange man skipping around in spandex with hand-drawn musical notes all over it seems suspect, especially since he's always clutching that tacky little recorder close to his chest, but it’s hard to tell these days. The middle of the month always has so many odd new imPorts arriving.

Towards the middle of the day, the news has changed from reporting these sightings as some strange performance art in the city to declaring them a clear act of super-powered malice, accompanied only by - you guessed it - the shrill piping of a recorder, inducting all around them into spontaneous song-and-dance. ImPorts with particularly good hearing may hear a shrill voice cheering, "there's no day but today for this!" or "enough of the classics; it's time to get thoroughly modern!" or, particularly irritatingly, "All I ask of you is to stand up!"

The fact the news anchors sing this report just underscores the present menace (you know what we mean). The majority of people seem to be performing their day to day while acting out numbers based on famous musicals, but any tune and dance sequence people can manage (or not, as the many petty thieves singing to Oliver! horribly screech as you pass by) is fair game, from country to pop to Klingon Opera.

Particularly news obsessed imPorts may notice that all this musical fanfare was first reported happening near the Maurtia Falls City Stage Theater. Investigators better be ready to put on their best Javert, however, as there’s no avoiding facing (and joining in) the music as you get closer to the heart of the problem.

MAY 18
ZOO(TLOOSE)
Doctor Dolots
Nonah

Police sirens aren’t that uncommon a sound, unfortunately. However, the occasional lion’s roar and outraged peacock squawk piercing through the familiar noise is a new one. Hover cars have surrounded the Nonah zoo, as much keeping the gawking public out as they are trying (and often failing) at keeping the loose animals in. Only imPorts are allowed to pass the tape line to approach the unusual threat. Known unregistered and even vigilante or villain imPorts are given the side-eye, but not questioned (what, are they going to give the tigers nightmares?), but registered imPorts are giving a bit of a heads up by the local civil servants. They aren’t sure if it’s a victim or the cause, but a lieutenant heard loud sobbing from inside the cave of the black bear enclosure before he was forced out by a crowd of vengeful lemurs. Anyone that doesn't want to have to directly deal with Nonah’s finest and head into the zoo itself still has plenty to do, however. Only a fraction of the animals have successfully been kept inside.

Behind the tape and in neighboring areas of the city everything is, well, a zoo. Animals are running everywhere. Elephants are competing with orangutans for fresh boiled peanuts, while otters have taken over public restrooms and are having the time of their lives playing with the automatic toilets. There has also been a disturbing team up of lions, tigers, and polar bears, while cheetahs race past them towards the most appealing prey of zebra, moose, and people.

It will be better for imPort public image to capture rather than harm the animals, but at the end of the day the choice is yours.

MAY 25
WATER WORLD
Marina
Heropa

Sun and fun often bring shouts of delight, but the cries ringing out over the waves are from panic. The equipment keeping the Oceania party platform and artificial reef has malfunctioned due to the excessive weight — social scenester Evan Caulfield's party has way too many guests to celebrate his 25th birthday, it seems! A few nearby pleasure craft approach the site of the sinking soiree, but they just don't have the capacity to bring everyone aboad.

Word quickly reaches the shore, filtered through social media from all the selfies attendees are taking — #sinking #help #thewetlook — and emergency services urge any heroes in the area to come and help.

The scene is chaotic, but just off the shore, a tall, muscular Hispanic woman in her early 40s climbs to the top of a yacht and shouts to get everyone's attention. Decked out in a bright wetsuit that could be a superhero's costume or a fashionable diving outfit, she pumps a fist into the air. "Come on, everyone! We've got to come together and save these people!"

With that, she dives into the water and starts swimming freakishly fast toward the disaster site. She never seems to come up for air, but when she does surface to aid the bewildered partiers, she does a great job making sure they don't go under.

Well, hero? What are you waiting for?

Comments

Doctor Octopus | OTA

[doctopussy]

De Chima

[ Normally, Otto gets around by using his legs and clambering around like an extremely dignified man in a white suit who wears sunglasses 24/7, but sometimes a situation calls for subtly. There's a mall in De Chima that has offices, several being tech-based, and he was going to investigate some for his own personal reasons -- before the elevator in the mall stops. And that cloying, annoying voice explains why. ]

This is absurd.

Maurtia Falls

[ It's still early on, before Otto found out about the plague hitting the city.
He'd only gone there to investigate some particular people of interest.

He leaves the Porter building and just outside he checks his phone for the map (to lose oneself would be very undignified for a man such as him) and doesn't notice when he starts loudly humming a song.

But he especially doesn't notice his mechanical arms moving in rhythmic ways to the beat. It's quite beautiful, honestly, if in a creepy way. ]

de chima

[fistofthejoestar]

I don't know if it's as bad as all that. She sounds rather young.

[Jonathan's patience is infinite in regard to nearly everything, and being held for emotional ransom is no different. it's almost comical compared to some of the other things that he's suffered through, and the expression on his face is dangerously close to fond laughter.

he knows, however, that this is a trait that's likely not shared by most of the population. as he steps forward to try and jiggle the Door Open button out of due diligence, he asks another question of his spontaneous cellmate.]

Are you in a hurry, sir?

[he's relatively certain that he could jumpstart the elevator with ripple enough to reach the nearest floor, although whether or not he'd have to climb out the hatch and directly apply it to the cables remains to be seen. it's a bit troublesome, but if the other man has somewhere to be it seems the best course of action.]

[doctopussy]

As admirable as her goal is in theory, the execution leaves much to be desired.

[ He's reasonably sure he could get out of here -- whether or not the other person of the elevator would survive his methods would be something else, and while normally he wouldn't care he's being careful right now. Again: one must sometimes be subtle. ]

The fact I'm not in a hurry is the only salvageable thing about this fiasco.

[fistofthejoestar]

There's no need to do anything too adventurous, then.

[Jonathan seems perfectly content with this arrangement, already settling down cross-legged in one of the elevator's corners. he's a monster of a man when it comes to stature, and if they're going to be spending some time in close quarters it's only polite to minimize himself as much as possible.]

My name is Jonathan Joestar, seeing as we'll be here for a time. I do wish it could have been under better circumstances, although I suppose this makes for a grand icebreaker.

[doctopussy]

[ Otto stares at him incredulously for a moment, sitting on the floor of the elevator. ]

You're not taking this whole ridiculous affair seriously, are you? I have no interest in being forced to make anyone's acquaintance.

[fistofthejoestar]

It's hardly the strangest thing I've experienced - and this is really quite harmless.

[their captor sounded far too young to have planned this out particularly thoroughly; Jonathan's confident that she'll either relent soon enough or be chased off by the authorities once they realize that one of the elevators is out of commission. it was hardly anything worth getting worked up over in the grand scheme of things.

Otto's own ill temper seems to have just as little an effect on him, judging by the way that he displays neither shame nor irritation at being rebuffed. this, too, was not even close to the most unpleasant person he'd been forced to spend time with.]

I'm afraid that you likely won't be able to escape without us learning a bit about each other, however.

[it was inevitable in a situation like this. even without names, a simple conversation was often more than enough to learn about someone else. it was a bit amusing in that way.]

[doctopussy]

While it may indeed be harmless, that makes it no less irritating.

[ Otto examines the elevator panel -- the emergency button doesn't seem to be doing anything. Maybe he can figure out a way to bypass whatever the woman did anyway...

That being said, very begrudgingly he finally introduces himself. ]

Dr. Otto Octavius.

[fistofthejoestar]

It's a pleasure, sir.

[and, somehow, he manages to convey complete sincerity in those words. both the situation and Otto's aloofness haven't come close to irritating Jonathan even a little bit. it just seems silly to feel annoyed over something like this in the grand scheme of things when he could simply continue being friendly.]

If you don't mind a little inconvenience in the trying, I may be able to bring the elevator up to the next floor.

[despite his protests of not having anywhere to be, Jonathan can see how he's investigating the panel. it seems rude to take him at his word when there's still something that he could do to help.]

DE CHIMA (I'm changing it a lil)

[burlyboy]

[ As Magnus steps into the elevator, he doesn't, in fact, recognize Otto. There's something vaguely familiar about it, but what it is, he doesn't know. Instead, as he steps into the elevator, he just stretches his arms out above him. ]

Isn't there usually music in these things?

[ And while he doesn't know exactly why, he's moved to hum. ]

aw yeah i'm down

[doctopussy]

[ Otto does a doubletake. He remembers Magnus but can't remember why he remembers Magnus. Something about him feels very familiar, but not in a good way. No, the minute Otto sees Magnus's face it immediately irritates him.

And if that weren't enough, Magnus starts singing that song. The one that Otto can't seem to escape. The one that if his files hadn't listed an odd power, he would have seriously considered the possibility he was going insane. Which he's not, obviously. ]

Cease that incessant noise immediately.

[burlyboy]

It's not noise! [ Magnus protests, immediately looking greatly offended that a stranger wouldn't be absolutely enchanted with his dulcet tones. ] I've got very good musicality, thank you very much!

[ He crosses his arms, eyeing Otto before putting forth, ] If you hate it so much, come up with elevator music of your own.

[ Magnus stares at Otto, clearly fully expecting him to sing something for his amusement because Magnus is, if nothing else, a singularly irritating individual. ]

[doctopussy]

You're off-tune and no, I will do no such thing.

[ The amount of hate he carries for this seeming stranger is surprising even to him --
he's a reasonable person ([citation needed]), he does not hate without reason. As irritating as this fellow is, he recognizes the amount of disgust is out of proportion to the annoyance.

He stares for a moment trying to remember anything. ]

What made you pick that song in particular?

[ Maybe he's been stalking him. Maybe it's a coincidence. Otto isn't fond of coincidences. ]

[burlyboy]

But won't you? [ Magnus leans forward, not quite going nose-to-nose, but still getting up in Otto's personal space more than he would probably like because he's an uncouth sort of brute. ] Woooonnn't you?

[ When this effort does not magically work and Otto doesn't begin to provide him with his own personal soundtrack, Magnus relents by answering Otto's question.

Which is a nice way of saying, he shrugs and says, ] Dunno. It was just stuck in my head. 's a good song, though! You know it?

[doctopussy]

[ Otto makes the mental calculations on whether or not murdering a stranger for no purpose would be worth it, and to his utter disappointment the conclusion he arrives to is: not worth it. ]

Unfortunately.

[ Something about Magnus and that song together feels like deja vu. ]

Who are you?

[burlyboy]

I am Magnus Burnsides!

[ It's a declarative statement, as though Otto should know who he is and should be duly impressed by that statement. There is no reason for this declaration. Not very many people know who Magnus Burnsides is. He's just got good self-esteem. ]

And you, stranger?

Maurtia Falls

[shutterbugged]

[ Spider-Man has his own plans in Maurtia Falls which have absolutely nothing to do with the (quote unquote) good doctor; it's complete coincidence that he exits the Porter only a couple of minutes after Otto himself. His first, reflex reaction is to assume that Doctor Octopus is launching some kind of attack, but--huh, he's actually just standing there staring at his phone. Is he even aware of what he's doing?

Spidey hops onto the wall and creeps forward, halting just out of range of the arms. ]

Didn't know you were such a fan of the ballet, Doc. Should've figured, though, you never turn down the chance to be a snob.

[doctopussy]

Spider-Man. If you insist on following me, you could attempt to hold your tongue.

[ There is absolutely no way this is a coincidence, in Otto's mind. No, Spider-Man is specifically here for him. That's the only logical explanation, he doesn't even consider a different one.

Meanwhile, he tries to halt his arms, now aware of what he's doing and somewhat unsettled by it. But now the song seems stuck in his head, and it takes a bit more concentration than normal. ]

[shutterbugged]

Says the guy who was just stalking me for weeks. Hate to disappoint you, pal, but I've got other priorities in this town besides you.

[ He's not moving any closer, but... his fingers are tapping to the beat. ]

[doctopussy]

You cannot fool me, Spider-Man. Do you seriously believe this is a coincidence?

[ That's weird. Otto definitely said that in a sing-songy sort of way. The sort of way someone says something in a musical right before they burst into song. ]