paradisamemes | (no subject)

(no subject)

Fourth Wall Meme

It's the return of the Fourth Wall Meme, and we're opening it for the next full week!

paradisa does not allow non-members to post or comment in our main community, so we're offering this as a place to roleplay with our cast. Both character journals and personal journals are welcome, as well as doubles, original characters, AUs, whatever. Not all can be applied to the main game, but they're certainly welcome here.

Premise:
You wake up in a giant, magical castle. Everything is beautiful and the castle grants material wishes. It also provides a magic journal to every resident that allows everyone to communicate with each other like a two-way radio.

Format:
[Actions] Dialogue.

IE:
[Mickey Mouse enters the room, and sits down at the kitchen table.]

Gosh, guys, is this place ever swell!

What are you gonna do?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Well now, that is a lot of valuable, emotionally charged data to process. Still, South to overreacting strongly to a stressful situation is hardly out of character.]

Once your little temper tantrum has passed Agent, I'm sure we can discuss exactly what Carolina has told you... and what she has not.

[Unless you trust Carolina completely and he knows you don't.]

You don't get to ask me shit here.

[Trusting Carolina? That would be a no. Maybe earlier, when she'd acted like she cared, but all South got lately was a lot of self-centered bullshit from the other woman.]

[Still, she's gotten bold with the distance the journal provides.] You want me to cooperate you're going to have to make it worth my while.

[It's a good thing the journals don't transmit images because he can't help the smirk that pulls at the corners of his mouth. Dear mercantile South, you're still as dependable as always.]

I'm a reasonable man... name your terms.

[This is how he got her to do what she ended up doing. She's unpredictable in the most predictable ways.]

[Oh, yeah. Terms. She hadn't actually thought he'd accept so there's a brief pause as she thinks.] Okay, so ... you leave me the fuck alone. You leave my brother the fuck alone. No ... starting up Project Freelancer: Castle Edition.

[She figures that last one is a little much to ask for, but she's testing her boundaries here and what she can get away with.]

[Now to show just how fair and reasonable he is... and to play to Souths needs for control and limits.]

Fair enough... Simply return my property and it's done. You can go back to being Sheridan and Shane.

[How far are you willing to go for this South? Surely you didn't expect something so grand to be without cost to yourself.
And thank you for letting him know that North is here with you.]

[Oh, shit. Well she really backed herself into a corner now. There's a pause, and when she answers there's definitely a hint of panic in her tone.]

What-- what the hell do you need the armor for anyway?

Other than being my property... The armor is part of your commitment to Project Freelancer. As is any other property of mine in your or your brothers possession. [Theta, he means Theta. Good luck convincing him to part with Theta.]

As long as you wear my armor you are my Agents.

If you no longer want to be my Agent then you no longer have any right to privileges that go with it.

[Oh well fuck. South's not sure how to answer this, certainly not about to assume what North would or would not do with Theta.]

Can't you like, borrow it out or something?

'Borrow it out'? At what point do you think I stopped running a military organization and started running a charity?

[He pauses to give his annoyance a moment to cool.]

As I said, I'm a reasonable man... how would you intend to compensate me for the continued use of my armor? I'm willing to entertain your suggestions.

[You see how reasonable he is South, letting you set the terms. Treating you like a responsible adult. Isn't that what you've always wanted...]

This is such an awkward and impersonal way to conduct business. Why don't you take some time to think about your proposal and we can discuss it later in person.
At a time and place of your choosing, naturally.

Oh, uh ... [Treated like a responsible adult, yeah. Acting like one? Not so much. She's got the 'adult' part down, but still struggles with 'responsible'.]

[He's got her sufficiently flustered, though, and it's a lot easier to take him up on his offer to meet later, if just to delay the inevitable, without realizing it would mean facing him directly.] okay yeah, sure; tomorrow, seventeen hundred, in the kitchen.

[Kitchen being a neutral zone, a public zone, and has beer.]

Done.

[Despite her temper he has far more power over the situation in person. Since she set the terms, she's less likely to ditch. Her pride will see to that.]

I look forward to it.

[He'll make sure to check out the kitchen ahead of time to get a feel for the space and how best to use it to his advantage. Then make sure he arrives early and sits directly across from the entrance. The first thing she sees upon entering the room will be him watching her.]

[On top of everything, she's late. Living on her own, she doesn't have the sense of punctuality she had gotten from the other agents, and as such had spent oo much time dithering over how to present herself. In or out of armor? (out), armed or not? (not that it made any difference because fuck you castle, but she's got a pistol holstered to her thigh if just for aesthetics). She's wearing a certainly-not-regulation-civvies that would make any father sputter. Low cut tank top, tight jeans, the most fuck you she could possibly fit into one outfit.]

[Then she'd slapped a baggy sweater over it because fuck everything she didn't have the courage to face him like that.]

[And hten having him sitting there watching her when she entered brought her to a stumbling halt, before she forces herself into control and makes immediately for the fridge, her face drawn up in a scowl like she smelled dog shit.]

[She makes a production out of grabbing a beer, popping it open, and then flipping one of the chairs around to straddle it, an over-theatrical bravado to mask how nervous she really was.]

So.

Edited 2013-08-19 20:49 (UTC)

How good of you to join me.

[Naturally he's in his usual attire and set just off to the side is a now cold cup of coffee in a MOI mug. You can play civilian all you like South, he isn't going to let you forget that you aren't one so easily. He figured you would leave the armor where you thought it would be safe.]

I trust you had enough time to come up with a decent proposal.

[South has her hands clasped protectively around her beer, not so much because she thinks he's going to take it, but letting it serve as a grounding reminder that she's free now to do what she wants.]

[That doesn't stop the nervousness from flooding her senses. She stares at him, for a moment thinking about the fact that, according to popular rumor, he's the force behind everything that went wrong.]

[She shakes her head and glances at her hands for a moment. Nope, it doesn't make this any easier.] Well. I can pay ya for it. Like a monthly fee or a downpayment, money or intel.

[She wasn't good at bargaining, and although she didn't feel it was an ideal plan on her part, it was the best she could come up with. She could wish up money easily enough, and there were always suspicious types wandering around that she wouldn't mind him getting his meathooks into, so long as he left her and North alone.]

[Poor dear Sheridan, is anyone ever really 'free' to as they like? He remains sitting back, almost casually, in his chair.]

If I am not mistaken, money here is of little practical value. And I am a very practical man.

[He sits forward, resting his elbows on the table top and lacing his fingers together. Fixing her with an intense gaze.]

Now information, I can always use. Assuming it's of value of course.

[Okay, that look right there she's going to have nightmares about. She pulls slightly in on herself, answering with a sharp tone.]

Of course it's valuable. You think we're the only capable shit-stirrers around here? There's goddamn Spartans [who South dislikes] and demons [Who South is sorta friends with but it sounds impressive] and I've been here a year so I got a network, so yeah; my intel is valuable.

[Oops selling out friends and allies in order to look intimidating and impressive.]

Edited 2013-08-19 22:04 (UTC)

[The edge of his mouth pulls up into a subtle grin. In trying to prove she isn't afraid of him she'll give him everything he wants. And in trying to be 'independent' she's just going to end up working for him in a different capacity.]

And just how many of Halsey's children are here?

[He'll address the 'demon' thing later.]

Not many, but the one in particular is damn annoying. [Slipping into a familiar subject; whining about Noble3 Six.] Haven't really met the other two.

[Compliance through defiance.]

[Three Spartans. That will pose a unique opportunity.]

And who's here from the Project?

[Let's see if her list matches up with Carolina's. He suspects Carolina has been withholding information from him.]

York and Carolina, a couple sim soldiers. [Her grip tightens a fraction on her beer and she flicks her gaze over at him. She already mentioned North once, she's not going to do it again if she doesn't have to.]

[He gives her a thin smile]

Yes... Assuming you haven't left out any valuable information, I believe you've made a satisfactory down payment on 'your' armor with this information.

As for North... What can you offer me on his behalf?

[Focusing hardcore on her beer, now. She hasn't really drunk any of it and right now her stomach's in too much of a somersault for her to consider it, but it makes for a good distraction.]

What ... do you have in mind?

[Money he doesn't want, and intel she's already handed over. She finally looks over at him, eyes hard and sharp, fear but also determination and regret. This, right here, might finally make up for what she does to North later in life.]

I can't imagine you're the only one who was... shall we say, less than enthusiastic about my arrival.

I have no desire to cause any trouble nor do I want trouble to find me. Nevertheless, these things do happen and you are as well trained to deal with such eventualities as is humanly possible.

[Sure he can intimidate or smooth talk his way past most problems but let's face it... if someone made a move against him, he'd be boned. Talk of demons and magic doesn't really make him any less aware of his physical vulnerabilities. Not that he trusts South but she'll make a good placeholder until he can get someone more reliable... say the SPARTANs, on his side.]

[Okay, so this would be her penance. She stares back at her beer, frowning deeply as she considers it, feels its weight settle on her shoulders. No this wasn't something she wanted to do, but if it meant he'd keep off North?]

[She takes a breath and nods.] Okay then, You got yourself a bodyguard.

Then the matter's settled, so long as you uphold your end of the bargain both of you can continue to use my equipment.

[And she will provide him with a bargaining chip against North. So, that's at least two of the Freelancers settled... Carolina is just a matter of time.
He sits back and smiles pleasantly.]

I knew we could come to a reasonable and mutually beneficial arrangement.

[Naturally, he will abide the letter of their agreement. He won't seek North out. However North, being such a protective and concerned brother, will find him.]