A general use thread, outside the main story, for various excursions into the city proper...

The five newcomers had been told of some of Sundown City's darker facets, by the two residents they'd thus far met.

But, while one was out riding a motorcycle through its thoroughfares and boulevards, the brighter ones were on display.

If discrimination and prejudice existed here, they were not on public view.   This was especially apparent to the eyes of a mutant. Because not all those who traversed the sidewalks, or adorned the billboards, were homo sapient.   And the only casual regard paid to them spoke of equity and acceptance.

There were no signs of homelessness. No pan handlers, or anyone who appeared to be doing without adequate nutrition.

While one might have expected signs of fantastic technology, those too were not in evidence.

There wasn't a smart phone to be seen anywhere, though flip-style cell phones were frequently in hand.

Cafes, restaurants, clubs, bars, stores of all sorts, were easy to find.  Though parking was trickier.   Public transport - cabs, buses, trollies - plainly did a good bit of the people hauling.

And, there was the gorgeous sunset from which the city likely derived its name.

The sun had been starting to set when the five first arrived.   And it still was; hardly changed at all...
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:48, Fri 26 Aug 2022.

As the traffic light up ahead changed to red, Specter's motorcycle slowed to a stop. He idled for a while, examining his surroundings while taking care not to rubberneck like some obvious tourist. Subtlety. That was the word of the day. As such, he had chosen to remain in his normal mode of appearance-- the one where he wasn't a flaming skeleton. The bike, too, reflected his choice.

Now, where to? If he was going to locate this mysterious, all-important doohickey-- (What was it, again? A heart? A jar? No, wait, a star.)-- then he was going to need to keep his ear to the ground. He needed to blend in among the people, ask some questions, and get a better idea of what was going on in this strange city. And what better place to conduct such business at than the bar just around the corner?

Of course, said the demon in his head. Let the liquor do the thinking, like always.

"Ah, quit your whining. The Doc said we had to complete this mission. He didn't say we couldn't have some fun while we're at it."

Byrne's Bar and Grill read the sign, at the first place where Specter was able to find some parking.   Looked like a fairly decent place, without being too nice, in a way that might defeat the purpose(s) of this visit.

The crowd might have been any other, that tended to frequent these places, but again for the noticeable diversity.   In particular, there was one table where the patrons were overtly non-human, if all still humanoid. 

At one end of the bar, a pair of men -- both dark haired, casually dressed -- were engaged in a low-voiced conversation, both barely touching the drinks in front of them.   The real notable thing is that they were twins; perhaps the most identically so Specter had ever seen.

Once Specter was situated (take your pick of bar or table), the bartender (server if table) approached and with a friendly demeanor, said, "Hey there -- haven't seen you in here, before?  What can I get for you?"   

She appeared in her early 20s; blonde hair so fair as to be nearly white, with a similarly fair complexion, and eyes truly more lavender than blue.

Specter made his way to the table, gravitating naturally to the group of non-humans. "Hey, friends. Name's Scott. I'm new in town and looking to celebrate. Can I buy you all some beers?" He looked around the establishment, noting the strange twins seated at the bar, until he saw the server approaching. He did a quick double-take-- No, it can't be her-- and, after stumbling a bit, requested a good hazy IPA for himself and each of his companions. Back home, it has been a favorite of Wolverine's.

The non-humans grinned at Scott's approach, and were quick to take him up on the offer:

"Hey, thanks, bud!  That's mighty kind of you.   You want to have a seat with us-?" The one who spoke indicated a chair.

"Name's Kargov, and these are my brothers, Latorr and Bygur, and our cousin, Fragina," the latter was a woman.  All nodded politely, and seemed friendly.

As to them being family --  none of them looked alike at all. They did have in common rather colorful skin tones --  one crimson, another purple, and two differing shades of green. One bearded and rather hirsute, two mostly hairless, and the woman with sleek, ponytailed, raven hair.  Eyes, other features, all varied among the four.

"Welcome to Sundown!   Our family's pretty well known, 'round here.   We run the sanitation department.  Also, a BBQ chain, McGristle's," he smiled toothily. "Have some chips, if you want," indicating a large basket of chips with salsa.

"So. Did you escape some bad time, back home?"

As for the server -- she took Scott's order, assured him "Back in a flash!" and departed behind the bar.

If Scott was likening her, perhaps, to a certain Ms. Frost --  the coloring was similar, though this woman was even fairer, verging on albino like.   She was striking, though not statuesque to the same degree, and her name tag declared simply Michelle.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:27, Wed 31 Aug 2022.

Scott exhaled a sigh of relief as he read the server's name tag. He took a seat as it was offered and relaxed slightly. As far as he was concerned, the fewer familiar faces from his timeline that he encountered here, the better. He had no desire to face the ghosts and demons of his past. Bad enough they occupied his dreams.

He ate a chip. "Pleasure to meet you all." As his brow furrowed behind the ruby lenses he wore, he tried to think of a response to the question that would satisfy their curiosity without inviting further inquiry. "Bad times, yeah. I travel now. Try to help others who've been through, uh... bad times."

Help others? No, Scott Summers. You don't help others. You hunt down sinners and give them penance, filling the air with the beautiful music of their screams as you burn their souls in the holy fires of--

Which is like helping, isn't it, Zarathos? Shut up, I'm talking here.

"How about all of you? Do you, uh... like it here? In Sundown?"

Two of them nodded heartily, and the others didn't seem to disagree.

"Yep, we do.  Was a pretty large improvement for us, coming here; we're from Lemuria, you see.  At least, one version of it.  Place had its glory days, but, eventually, religion snaked its way into politics, and you know how that goes!"      One of the other men chuckled at that, while the woman rolled her eyes a little.

Scott would note that now a third man, identical to the pair of twins he'd glimpsed on the way in, had entered, and made his way over to those two.

The Demon apparently noticed.  Twins...triplets...you know that's almost symbolic, Scott.   Because -I've- got a twin in this place, too.   I can feel him...but I don't think he gets out too much...

The server arrived with the drink order, moving them from her tray to Scott and his new acquaintances...

Why don't you propose a toast, Scott?   How about to Corruption?  It's consistent, at least, world to world.  Corruption has -that- going for it, doesn't it? 

"Let me know if I can get you anything else," chimed the server cheerfully.

Scott nodded along as he listened. "Lemuria... The underwater city?" He had heard of such a place, though never travelled there. "Thank you," he smiled at the waitress, taking the opportunity to look past her and observe the triplets at the bar. He wanted to discreetly keep them in the corner of his eye, if possible. When it was his turn to speak again, he grabbed his glass.

"How about a toast? To..."

CORRUPTION!

I'm not gonna say "corruption," Zarathos. That's just weird.

"... Cooperation. Deviants..." He raised his glass toward his new friends, then placed a palm against his chest to indicate himself. "Mutants... We gotta look out for each other. You folks have been kind to me. Anyone around here gives you trouble, you let me know."

Scott's four table-mates grinned at that, appearing to like the sentiment.

"Here, here!" they chimed, clinking glasses with him.    "Back at ya, buddy! And yep, that's the Lemuria I mean."   

Whereupon Scott suddenly realized he felt a little...off.   Could it be something in his drink-?  Zarathos seemed to know otherwise:

Ugh.  Feel that?  It's some contingency spell, that Strange must've set up.    So that you're all together, when it really matters, or some good-guy shite like that!

"Woah!" exclaimed the Deviant who'd been doing most of the talking, as though on cue.  "Buddy...you're looking kinda...transparent?" 

Scott had time for a last swig of his drink, if he chose, right before he was transported elsewhere...
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:25, Tue 27 Sept 2022.

"Huh. Damn." Scott held up a hand, staring through it. Sure enough, he was vanishing right before his own eyes. "Well, nice meeting you folks." He downed his beer as quickly as he could. "You all watch each others' backs now. See you when I see you."

As he was pulled away by the spell, he questioned Zarathos: Did you notice anything weird about those triplets at the bar? And what was that you were saying about having a twin in this place?

They're life-model decoys. The kind SHIELD makes, in many worlds.   Specifically, they're LMDs of a guy named Ted Sallis.  Interesting gent...so often connected to a certain interdimensional nexus.   

As for my twin...can't tell you too much.   Inside a heavy-walled structure, off to the west; incarcerated, I'm pretty sure...he was a baaad boy, no doubt...

The Deviants waved farewell;  giving Scott the impression they were surprised, but also that this wasn't the most unusual thing they'd ever beheld.

And with that, the mutant Ghost Rider was gone.