THE MOCK WEEK

[grimgrinningghosts]

[You find yourself waking in a large dressing room, incredibly spacious, but in intense disarray. The bed is comfortable enough, and each room seems to be equipped with a working bathroom and shower, so it's at least livable. But aesthetically, the place has hit the floor.

The horrifying clock mounted on the wall reads 9 am. After enough searching, you'll find a large tourist-y map of the studio on one of the dressers. An ominous note attached to the map with a paperclip reads "12PM WAITING AREA". It's not like you have any choice in the matter, seeing as there doesn't seem to be any way out.

Upon exiting the dressing room, you note a crooked star attached to the door bearing your name. There are 24 others like this, bearing names that you may or may not recognize. A quick tour around the studio reveals it to be in a similar state of disrepair, but something doesn't sit...right with you. Though the place is certainly creepy, you get strange vibes as you explore the building. As you move about the dust-filled halls of the abandoned building, you may spot movement out of the corner of your eye, or hear strange noises from behind you. It's nothing to be worried about, though...right?

At the very least, you'll find some comfort. The projection room and attached theater still seem to be in working order, though you'll have to manually grab one of the reels off the wall and start the thing yourself. In addition, the waiting area and lounge are both filled with reading materials, and the later features a large stage and a microphone. The commissary seems to replenish itself with food whenever you take your eyes off of it, ensuring that we won't be going hungry anytime soon. There are also cabinets full of ingredients and a small kitchen should you not trust whatever your benefactor is placing out for you.

Fortunately for them, the smaller individuals amongst your party won't find a great deal of difficulty moving around. Though their beds remain oversized, there seem to be appropriately-sized staircases and escalators placed about in appropriate spots, so as to make their lives easier. After all, they can't just keep relying on the others to get up to the cabinets and such, can they?

While you're waiting to find out what the deal here is, you might as well come out and socialize.]

(ooc: Welcome to the Foolish Mortals Mock Week! Please follow us on Plurk at foolishmortals for updates, and if you're so inclined, please feel free to join your Discord-inept head moderator as he struggles to set up a Discord chat up for everyone.)

Comments

[pinkflip]

The future?! [That... Oh. That's new.] Oh... Uh... Well, I guess I should be happy you don't know of Rita and Zedd, then. Whoa.

[She might need to sit down for this.]

[pardonmylanguage]

Well, now I'm just bothered by the fact that I don't know anything about them. I'm pretty sure an alien invasion would have made the news. You do have television news back in your time, right?

[pinkflip]

Yes! [She doesn't mean to sound so offended, honestly it's mostly a little bit horrified. How much has technology advanced if she thinks they didn't have TV in the 90's?] They're mostly focused on one town, 'cause of...the heroes who stop 'em, that's where they live. That's probably why you've never heard of them.

[pardonmylanguage]

[She figures they had TVs, okay? She's just not sure what kind of stuff those TVs would show!]

...just a few people holding back an entire alien invasion? [She sounds...both disbelieving and jealous.] How'd they manage that?

[pinkflip]

'Cause they were chosen for it. [She holds back the pride swelling within her.] The Power Rangers are a group of six people with weapons and vehicles and...powers, designed to fight evil. They protect the city from the monsters Rita and Zedd send down. No matter how tough it gets, they're there, and they win.

[pardonmylanguage]

[Okay, that really sounds like something out of a comic book.] So they just send monsters as soldiers to do their dirty work instead of coming down themselves? Sounds a lot like the alien leader I know.

[pinkflip]

Yeah, though they've got all this magic. Sometimes they put spells on the town or, uh, kidnap people to their dark dimensions.

[pardonmylanguage]

...so they're still doing alien abductions then. Do they actually need those people for anything?

[pinkflip]

Hostages? [She...kind of shrugs, though she looks pretty sure.] Or using magic to try and get them to submit. It's usually part of a plan to trap the Power Rangers.

[pardonmylanguage]

Oh. [She looks irritated at that.] Typical evil invader behavior, then. [A pause] Is it worse or better if they actually understand the concept of human empathy and aren't just grabbing people randomly and then wondering why their families get mad? [She sounds like she has personal experience with that last part.]

[pinkflip]

[...This poor kid. Kim puts a gentle hand on Tip's shoulder, and she gives a sad but encouraging smile.]

I think both of 'em sound pretty bad, in their own ways. If this is one of those, an alien abduction? We've gotta make sure to give 'em a piece of our minds.

[pardonmylanguage]

[Tip does appreciate the encouragement, really. She gives a determined nod.] Yeah, we will. I've dealt with this kind of sh-stuff once already. I'm not going to let it go on longer than it has to.

[pinkflip]

[Her own determination rising, Kim grins.] That makes two of us. 'til then, we'll stick together.

[pardonmylanguage]

[Tip manages the first smile she's had since they got here.] Sounds like a plan. I don't think I got your name, actually. Mine's Tip.

[pinkflip]

Oh my gosh, really?! [Her grin turns sheepish and she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear.] Sorry 'bout that, I'm Kimberly.

[pardonmylanguage]

It's...nice to meet you, I guess. As nice as it can be under these circumstances. [she waves a hand at the walls.]

[pinkflip]

Yeah, well... I've made a few friends while kidnapped before. The place sucks, but the company's alright. ...How old're you, Tip?

[pardonmylanguage]

You've been kidnapped before? Got any idea on whether whoever got us is going to show up, then?

...I'm twelve. [She sounds a tiny bit awkward about it? Hopefully this doesn't end up with her placed in a kid's corner or something.]

[pinkflip]

Oh, yeah. [She laughs, lightly.] If they're anything like the dumb overlords I know? They'll be out here, yapping about their master plan in no time.

[Her face softens.] Well... I'm seventeen. So, it's kind of my responsibility to make sure you don't get hurt.

[pardonmylanguage]

...I can take care of myself, you know. [A pause] When the Boov arrived, they ended up taking my mom first, before they even made any announcements about their invasion or anything. So I know how to deal with...stuff.

[pinkflip]

I bet you can. [She takes care not to sound patronizing.] But just 'cause you've been through a lot of rough stuff doesn't mean you have to go it alone all the time. I know... Having a team to back you up, wouldn't that be a lot better?

[pardonmylanguage]

...yeah, I guess. [She has to concede to that, at least.] I had J. Lo back then too, although mostly for the part where I was actually traveling across America.

[pinkflip]

Who's J. Lo? A friend of yours? [...i don't know WHEN jennifer lopez got her nickname but her big breakthrough was like, 1996 or 1997 so i am assuming "not yet" is the answer]

[pardonmylanguage]

Kind of, I guess? He was one of the aliens who invaded, but he ended up helping me out a lot. And then he kind of ended up staying with us. [She shrugs, but smiles a bit.] He's kind of like my little brother now.

[pinkflip]

Ohh, really? That's great. The, uh. The Power Rangers get help from some friendly aliens too, so...it's nice to know there're all kinds, huh?

Is he a pain just like a real little brother?