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bakerstreet2025-05-21 04:20 pm
sockiatrist) wrote in bakerstreet2025-05-21 04:20 pm
Entry tags:
city at night meme
— city at night meme
You've got the world around you yawning with potential, possibilities fanning out before your very eyes—after all, they say the city doesn't sleep at night. The skyline's illuminated with glittering lights, and even now, the streets are bustling with activity. So here's the real question: where are you at this hour?
— scenario prompts
1) WORKING.
You're still caught up at the office or wherever it is you're holed up. It's getting late, but there's work to be done.
2) RELAXING.
You're warm and comfortable someplace indoors, whether it's in a cozy nook of a café or maybe just in your own apartment. There's no other place you really need to be, is there?
3) MEET-UP/DATE.
Is there someone you're seeing for dinner? A date? Maybe you're going bar-hopping together with some friends, or your attendance is expected at some special event. Alternatively, there's someone you're meeting with to make a deal of some kind, whether it's perfectly legitimate or something that might invite trouble with local enforcement.
4) OUT FOR A WALK.
Sometimes, it's nice to get out for some fresh air—or, well, as fresh as it gets with all the air pollution around you. The park's not too far away; it might be nice and quiet at this hour, if you don't run into any...
5) TROUBLE.
It's getting late and it's dark outside, but someone has been tailing you for a while. Walking faster only makes them speed up; they're doggedly persistent. What to do now? Is there a busy street you can turn on to for help? Or maybe it's time to confront your pursuer... On the flip side, you're the one tracking someone. For what reason? Well, only you would know, right?
6) OTHER.
Anything else you can think of!
You're still caught up at the office or wherever it is you're holed up. It's getting late, but there's work to be done.
2) RELAXING.
You're warm and comfortable someplace indoors, whether it's in a cozy nook of a café or maybe just in your own apartment. There's no other place you really need to be, is there?
3) MEET-UP/DATE.
Is there someone you're seeing for dinner? A date? Maybe you're going bar-hopping together with some friends, or your attendance is expected at some special event. Alternatively, there's someone you're meeting with to make a deal of some kind, whether it's perfectly legitimate or something that might invite trouble with local enforcement.
4) OUT FOR A WALK.
Sometimes, it's nice to get out for some fresh air—or, well, as fresh as it gets with all the air pollution around you. The park's not too far away; it might be nice and quiet at this hour, if you don't run into any...
5) TROUBLE.
It's getting late and it's dark outside, but someone has been tailing you for a while. Walking faster only makes them speed up; they're doggedly persistent. What to do now? Is there a busy street you can turn on to for help? Or maybe it's time to confront your pursuer... On the flip side, you're the one tracking someone. For what reason? Well, only you would know, right?
6) OTHER.
Anything else you can think of!
— setting prompts
A) STREETS/ALLEYS.
Are you visiting a busy district teeming with people? Or are you out on a quieter street? It can be dark out there, especially if you turn onto a smaller one without many streetlamps. Watch your step. Some of the alleyways might make good shortcuts if you're trying to get somewhere fast, but there's also trouble to be found sometimes. Don't get cornered anywhere, and especially don't get too curious if you see something suspicious in one of the dumpsters...
B) IN TRANSIT.
You're between locations right now, just trying to get on with your evening. You have some options, like public transportation: the bus, the train, the subway. Alternatively, you're a fancier kind of person: you've got your own car that you're driving, or better yet, you have a chauffeur and a private car. Or, you know, you're just taking a taxi or using a ride-share app. There are also transitional spaces like parking lots or garages.
C) DINING.
Some cities are melting pots of different cultures; you're bound to find countless spots at which to eat. There are small cafés if you want a quick bite, or fancier restaurants where you can wine and dine. You could support a small family business by dropping by at a local hole in the wall—sometimes the most authentic spots with the best food are nondescript locations. Or if you're really trying to impress, go for some famous Michelin three-star.
D) NIGHT LIFE.
Bars, clubs, lounges—all of it's fair game. Remember to drink responsibly—or don't, if you're looking to really forget about your troubles for a while. Just know that you'll only have yourself to blame for that raging hangover in the morning.
E) CORPORATE BUILDING.
In a larger city, major corporations might be headquartered in the glittering skyscrapers that line the most expensive districts. There are all kinds of businesses—banks, law firms, finance companies, tech groups, to state just a few. Some places might keep their lights on pretty late at night for the white-collar workers burning the midnight oil; others, perhaps not. Do you fit somewhere in this equation? Or if you're here for something more exciting, there's always corporate espionage...
F) SHOPS.
A lot of shops could be closed by now, but maybe it's that final hour before that mall or outlet you wanted to visit locks their doors for the evening. Time for some last-second shopping! Snatch up that deal before it's gone, or be sure to buy a gift for your date before it's too late!
G) HOME.
You're at home, wherever that is—an apartment, a condo, a house somewhere, or maybe something more extravagant. Real estate can get expensive in the city, especially in popular locations. Do you have a tiny apartment that covers all your basic needs? Or something much nicer, like the type of penthouse people usually only see in movies, complete with floor-to-ceiling windows?
H) CITY SQUARE.
Some city squares are hubs of activity, filled with street performers, pop-up stores, or food stalls. There's a lot you could do, especially when it's nighttime and the little lights strung around the place look so pretty.
I) ABANDONED SPACE.
Every city has its fair share of abandoned warehouses or other buildings that are slated for demolition. Sometimes they attract certain types of crowds that would make your average person think twice before confronting. A lot of places are off-limits, but every so often, the no-trespassing sign is more of a suggestion than a real threat, right?
J) OTHER.
Anything else you can think of!
Are you visiting a busy district teeming with people? Or are you out on a quieter street? It can be dark out there, especially if you turn onto a smaller one without many streetlamps. Watch your step. Some of the alleyways might make good shortcuts if you're trying to get somewhere fast, but there's also trouble to be found sometimes. Don't get cornered anywhere, and especially don't get too curious if you see something suspicious in one of the dumpsters...
B) IN TRANSIT.
You're between locations right now, just trying to get on with your evening. You have some options, like public transportation: the bus, the train, the subway. Alternatively, you're a fancier kind of person: you've got your own car that you're driving, or better yet, you have a chauffeur and a private car. Or, you know, you're just taking a taxi or using a ride-share app. There are also transitional spaces like parking lots or garages.
C) DINING.
Some cities are melting pots of different cultures; you're bound to find countless spots at which to eat. There are small cafés if you want a quick bite, or fancier restaurants where you can wine and dine. You could support a small family business by dropping by at a local hole in the wall—sometimes the most authentic spots with the best food are nondescript locations. Or if you're really trying to impress, go for some famous Michelin three-star.
D) NIGHT LIFE.
Bars, clubs, lounges—all of it's fair game. Remember to drink responsibly—or don't, if you're looking to really forget about your troubles for a while. Just know that you'll only have yourself to blame for that raging hangover in the morning.
E) CORPORATE BUILDING.
In a larger city, major corporations might be headquartered in the glittering skyscrapers that line the most expensive districts. There are all kinds of businesses—banks, law firms, finance companies, tech groups, to state just a few. Some places might keep their lights on pretty late at night for the white-collar workers burning the midnight oil; others, perhaps not. Do you fit somewhere in this equation? Or if you're here for something more exciting, there's always corporate espionage...
F) SHOPS.
A lot of shops could be closed by now, but maybe it's that final hour before that mall or outlet you wanted to visit locks their doors for the evening. Time for some last-second shopping! Snatch up that deal before it's gone, or be sure to buy a gift for your date before it's too late!
G) HOME.
You're at home, wherever that is—an apartment, a condo, a house somewhere, or maybe something more extravagant. Real estate can get expensive in the city, especially in popular locations. Do you have a tiny apartment that covers all your basic needs? Or something much nicer, like the type of penthouse people usually only see in movies, complete with floor-to-ceiling windows?
H) CITY SQUARE.
Some city squares are hubs of activity, filled with street performers, pop-up stores, or food stalls. There's a lot you could do, especially when it's nighttime and the little lights strung around the place look so pretty.
I) ABANDONED SPACE.
Every city has its fair share of abandoned warehouses or other buildings that are slated for demolition. Sometimes they attract certain types of crowds that would make your average person think twice before confronting. A lot of places are off-limits, but every so often, the no-trespassing sign is more of a suggestion than a real threat, right?
J) OTHER.
Anything else you can think of!
original meme by sockupo.
sockupo.
no subject
It's very nice to meet you Sayaka, I really appreciate it! [ How nice! She immediately fell in step beside Sayaka, thinking about the options the other girl suggested. ]
I did want to take a look and perhaps window shop for some new outfits. I may not actually buy any, but I do want to at least see any new styles that are out. After that, I wouldn't mind seeing the arcade you visit - I've never been to one before, actually.
[ Unless you count the virtual MMORPG that was recently developed back home. ]
no subject
[She has a very flashy appearance with low shorts, a black jacket and a tanktop underneath that... But she's never humored the idea of wearing anything more complicated than that. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to imagine herself in new clothes, but nothing too complicated! It's really by design... The only new 'dress' she's worn was her Vanquish Form.]
I... I guess I could do that too. [She's seen Shina and Lily do that together, but she was busy handling other things.] You haven't been to an arcade? Are you, uh... not a fan of video games?
[She asks curiously as it's not a deal breaker for her, but it wasn't often that she interacted with people who didn't play video games.]
no subject
[ Sayaka's outfit was certainly nice, but it was fun to try on new clothes too! Even if she did end up sticking with the same outfit. And it's more fun trying on new outfits with someone else too! Odette and Renne were missing out! ]
Oh, that's not it, I do like games. I just haven't had time to play any between schoolwork and my part time job - and there really aren't any arcade games like the one in this mall would be, back home. We do have games on the computer and one of the tech companies back home just developed a sort of virtual reality environment that you can connect to through the network on your computer. Though they're currently undergoing some testing and debugging since they were under attack by a hacker recently that effected the entire system.
no subject
This sounded similar to her situation with the End of Odyssey game. It was still in development and they've had weird glitches going on with it lately. She was one of the debuggers for that game who has been on the blunt end of it. VR could be a little traumatizing from her personal experiences.]
Um... C-Can I ask you more about this game that you're talking about? I actually work for a game company myself, so this is important to me! Like this hacker of theirs... Have they been caught already?
[It couldn't be ARATA and his Glitch Girl goons causing more trouble, couldn't they? ARATA was more of a showboat who hated being discreet whenever it came to his accomplishments, but you never could predict a terrorist like that. Him attacking other people to get Sayaka's attention was not out of character for him...]
no subject
Really? In that case yet, I can assure you that the culprit behind hacking the game has been captured and dealt with, so right now the company that developed it is focusing on damage control and doing the rest of the debugging. What kind of games does your company develop?
[ Rather curious if this one was a virtual environment like Marduk's was, or if her company did other things.
She wasn't really technologically inclined, so most of the jargon would probably go over her head, even though she DID pick up a bit from Risette and Quatre, the tech experts at the company she worked with. As she chatted though, she glanced about thoughtfully, debating on what style of clothing they could window-shop at. ]
no subject
[Whenever it came to game development and talking about Shina, Sayaka couldn't help and smile and gush about her. She was someone that everyone looked up to... For Sayaka, Shina was her family and the person who gave her a name and her current life. So she's a person who's very important to her.
But even Sayaka was starting to find it strange that Shina could make stories filled with malice, yet not have an ounce of it in her bones.]
The main game that we're developing is called End of Odyssey. It's, well, an adventure MMORPG based off of the previous game called World's Odyssey. Our objective is making it virtual reality based where anyone can become an adventurer and explore through the world and enjoy the story.
[She's already played through a few of the levels for testing. It's been busy work, but she hopes that players can enjoy it as much as she's been enjoying the process.]
no subject
[ It was cute to see Sayaka gushing about her Director - Agnes probably felt like she looked like that when she talked about her best friend or the one who's done so much for her. ]
That sounds a little like the game that Marduk developed, Märchen Garten. There isn't much as far as quest content in it right now, but you can connect virtually with your friends and go through various dungeon floors to fight monsters until you get to the boss at the end. The stage levels are really beautiful though, so even if you don't want to fight monsters, you can just explore or farm mobs. When it's finished I'm sure they're going to have a lot more.
[ Yeeah, they had to debug the program by playing through each of the levels until they found the hacker. It was wild. ]
no subject
[Sayaka was getting really energetic as she began talking about one of the storylines, then she fumbles! World's Odyssey has been out for a while, so it should've been fine. But Sayaka has spent a lot of her days being a shut-in where her only social interactions were Shina, TV and the internet. She knew that people could get very intense about spoilers for media that they were into.
She hopes that Agnes wasn't mad at her! She's more than ready to apologize for going on a tangent about a video game like that. Whenever she brings up the game that she experienced, she takes a moment to hear out the company name and the game name. She didn't recall anyone mentioning those at the work office.]
Marduk... I've never heard of that company before. [A lot of Agnes' experiences with Märchen Garten reminded her of how she dealt with the Strain Areas. The line between video games and her own life was very paper thin.] But I'd say you're pretty lucky to get to experience a game like that! Usually beta testing is the roughest phase since you have to deal all kinds of crazy things. Like bugs, graphical errors and repatching and making sure everything is equally balanced for players.
[One of those bugs made her faint one time. She knows that it appeared in real life, she could've sworn it did... But maybe it was just her paranoia and anxiety getting to her head? It wouldn't be the first time that her sanity took a nosedive.]
no subject
Well - it's okay this time because I probably won't be able to play the game right away. [ So by the time she DID get her hands on a copy, she might not remember that oopsie anyway! She did appreciate Sayaka catching herself though. She had to admit she liked chatting about 'normal' things like clothing and games with people her own age - most of the people she chatted with casually were older. Not counting classmates that is, but her 'friend' group had been fairly small until recently. ]
Marduk probably hasn't extended it's influence very far, since it's still a new company, so I'm not surprised! [ She nodded in agreement at the mention of the beta testing though. ]
Yes, we were lucky that we were able to get back out of the game while we were searching for the hacker - there were one or two cases where some people were locked out entirely. Oh -! That store looks cute..! [ She pointed over to one of the clothing stores they were walking by while chatting. ]
Do you want to take a look in there? [ She saw some cute hats and jackets Sayaka might like! ]
no subject
So this was pretty refreshing for her... Seeing Agnes point over to the clothing store makes her blink curiously. Hm... She walks over to see the hats, jackets and the dresses on mannequin displays. Sayaka has never been to school, but she already had the knowledge to excel as a Luden. Still, she had to wonder if this was what 'normal' girls do in their spare time.]
Uh, sure. Those hats and jackets look cool. I wouldn't mind trying something on.
[There's a pause before she looks over to Agnes in pure curiosity. She felt like a fish out of water in a lot of ways...]
So... Do you hang out with your friends like this a lot? Like going to stores and things like that...
[A peaceful life wasn't something she imagined until now. In some ways, it's interesting see how other human beings live. But there was also a small part of her that found things easier when you had a sword to cut down something. Cutting down flesh and bone, seeing a life burn out in front of you, it bought a special thrill- Ah, that's a bad thought. She had to remember to cherish life and not destroy it.]
no subject
My work in the student council and my part time job keep me pretty busy, so most of my 'hangout time' with them is during school hours, or in the council room. I do sometimes spend time with my friends on my days off though. We'll usually go to the movies, or take a look at the newest books or clothing styles that hit the stores.
Although I do stop in at my part time job pretty often even on those days.. [ Eheh. She picked a sun hat off the track, turning it around thoughtfully. Back home it was not entirely 'peaceful', so she had learned early in to grab what time she could to have some fun and relaxation when she could, since there was no telling when something was going to happen. She plopped the hat back on the rack, deciding against getting it, before glancing at Sayaka. ]
What about you? You do the same when you're spending your down time with your friends, right?
no subject
[It looked fun, but she wasn't sure how she'd manage in a place like that. It looked a bit suffocating to interact with so many students at once, but she didn't think that she'd hate it. Given her inner nature, there was a very good reason why Shina didn't have Sayaka out and about until she felt 'stable' enough. It couldn't had been too different from going to work, she thought.
Still, everyone had a role to play in the world. A purpose. Sayaka wasn't sure what her true 'purpose' was right now. Being the debugger for Iris Corp was something that she was comfortable in, but was that all there was really do it? It's a strange little thought in her mind that's been hanging there lately, but she decides to push it aside for now.]
I think it's good to have something that you really wanna do. Something that makes you feel 'complete' in your life. There's probably some people out there that are... uh... probably still struggling with that!
[Just going by first impressions, Agnes definitely feels like an accomplished person. A 'complete' person. She eyes the sun hat for a moment that Agnes puts on the rack before taking a moment to observe a red jacket. She almost reaches out to take it, then stops. A certain person might've teased to wear it, but no... She couldn't entertain looking like them.]
Ah, me? Well, yeah. When we aren't busy... It's pretty much the same. I like to eat at restaurants with them along with shopping around like this. Maybe hang out at the park and shoot the breeze a little... [She closes her eyes wistfully.] Life's a lot simpler when it doesn't feel like the world's falling apart, isn't it? Hypothetically speaking, I mean.
[She calls it a hypothetical, but there's a small weight in her words. With all that she's experienced and seen so far, it's no wonder why humans can live happily as they do.]
no subject
That's right. You're home schooled? [ That might explain why she was so shy and nervous, if she didn't socialize with other people often. Still, she tilted her head a bit at the jacket, wondering if Sayaka was going to get it, though that too was put back. ]
That's similar to w hat we do when we're have free time. It's important to all of us to take advantage of the opportunities we have to find ways to entertain ourselves whenever we can. [ She fell silent herself a moment at the rather.. interesting 'hypothetical' though. ]
Yes, of course. When it's peaceful, you don't have to worry about where danger lies, which way it comes and who will be affected the most by it. But its hard to feel like the world is falling apart when you have others at your side. So no matter what the risk there is, as long as someone is supporting you, it's bearable.
[ She went quiet for a moment again, then perked up. ]
I don't think I see anything I'd like to get right now. If you like we can go take a look at the arcade?
no subject
[And that for her was mainly fighting! Not something that would apply in a more peaceful world... Sometimes, it made Sayaka feel a little out of place because of that. But slowly, she found her adjusting better all the more. Creating things felt better than destroying, but it never scratched a particular itch that echoed in her. It makes Sayaka subconsciously grip her hand as if reaching for a sword, but there was a pause from her again before she realizes that it was only pure air.
Ah, no reason to do this now! And going from Agnes' words... It was something that she'd have to remember. Whenever things became bad, then it was important to lean on the people that she cared about. She hoped that would always be the case... It just made her wonder if this girl had gone through diffcult experiences too.]
Oh, yeah! I was checking out that red jacket, but it doesn't feel like my style. Suits someone more w-wild, I think.
[A certain scheming woman flashes in her head, but it's Agnes' suggestion that she thinks would help get her mind off things. She takes a little breath as she forces a smile and starts to leave the store. Sayaka decides to lead the way since she found comfort in video games.]
Uh, can you tell me more about the school you go to? I think it might be nice to walk onto a campus at least once.
[She was always willing to try something new! As awkward as she was, she knew the value of new experiences. It never hurts to try something once, didn't it?]
no subject
Really? I think it might look cute on you! What kind of jacket would you have preferred?
[ She'd worried that maybe Sayaka wanted to look around and browse more, but instead it seemed like she was more comfortable with going to the arcade. She was rather curious about what as all in there though, and she could find clothing anywhere, so she quickly fell in step beside Sayaka, who seemed much more confident about their destination. ]
Hrm.. well the school prides itself on having a student body from all over, even those who migrated from other countries. What's most important is that everyone welcomes each other equally, and the school encourages all of the students to seek out the field they're most comfortable in, from the standard curriculum like English, math to orbal technology and orbal arts, which can branch into even more fields depending on what they want to focus on. For some classes like history and cultural arts we go on field studies every month or so to different cities, where we're required to research and submit a report relating to our field of study.
At the end of the year, the student council helps to put together a festival for the city and the school both, as a way to express our thanks and a blending of multiple cultures within the school. We just finished putting together one from this year, actually. It was a lot of work, but it was a lot of fun, and really rewarding seeing everyone getting along and having fun.