3709/Three Meras Enter a Park...

Three Meras Enter a Park...
Date of Scene:	06 October 2020
Location:	Melville
Synopsis:	D&D? The Meras join forces.
Cast of Characters:	Meggan Puceanu, Mary Bromfield, M'gann M'orzz

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Meggan Puceanu has posed:
Bludhaven, the suburban side of Gotham, isn't necessarily a hotbed of geek culture. Melville most definitely isn't, but the city's ongoing attempts to lure money into the working class neighbourhood leads to BludFest, the better-named sister to BludExpo and BludWorks, but not BludCon. The outdoor event sees wooden and cardboard castles pop up next to popular platformer and video game simulations, offering plenty of photo opps inside the pretty central band-shell that dominates the place. Fairy lights strung along the trees and walkways add their sparks of warmth. Of course, the occasional airplane taking off is loud enough, but these spontaneous eruptions barely get through the crackles of K-pop and J-pop emitted from speakers, especially the cheap Bluetooth kind.

With the falling leaves and the last blush of flowers, photos are certainly ideal. The cosplayers roam around in satin, cloth, linen, and foam molded into weird shapes. There are at least nine Supermen, one Batperson, and four Caps. The gamut ranges from homemade attempts by small children up to professional level, and maybe Steve Rogers is daylighting it.

At a food truck selling tasty rice balls, Meggan scowls at the amused girl with rainbow-coloured hair. "I said /salmon/," Meg insists, her flaming hair brushing over her face in a glorious wave. "Do I /look/ like I wanted chicken?" The arch tones carried on her English accent absolutely works. So does the sparkling sheet of scales acting as a rather cool jumpsuit, trailing skirt wrapped around her.

Mary Bromfield has posed:
However, there's more than one fish in the sea... or Mera-cosplayer at a convention, anyway. Wearing a very fiery wig that does her features a fair amount of credit, Mary is wearing a fairly form-fitting green jumpsuit with a scale motif, along with a matching aquamarine sash. A tiara rests upon her brow, and she bears a rather nasty looking prop trident painted gold in her hand.

At Meg's declaration, Mary pipes up, "/Chicken/! I do hope that they meant tuna. It sounds like that was a declaration for tuna." If there's one thing scarier than one irate Mera... it's definitely a pair of them. And this one might sound somewhat... familiar, to Meggan, for some reason.

M'gann M'orzz has posed:
    And yet, there is another Mera-cosplayer. Cringing slightly, the third Mera pauses for a moment, catching sight of at least two others of her. It is almost like going to the prom and being caught in the same dress as someone else. There is a pause of hesitation, as Megan chews on her bottom lip, before she hears that all-too-familiar English accent. Now that is a voice she recognizes...and seeing that she is one of the two other Meras in view gives the incognito Martian enough confidence to join the pair already there.

    "Well, really. How dare they assume we would want something as pedestrian as chicken." Well, when dressed as Mera...so as she would do.

    Megan's ensemble is certainly something. She, too, has the green jumpsuit with gold highlights, but it would appear that it is definitely not just a scale motif, but actual scales. Her jumpsuit is more modest than most, with most of her form covered, but the fiery red hair is definitely Megan's own, with the golden tiara upon her brow. Megan's normal freckles are gone...instead, her skin is flawless, more resembling her cosplay subject than not. And, while there is no trident in her hand, the golden bracers upon her wrists and the overall bearing she provides certainly declares her chosen subject matter as well as any giant fork.

    "Though, Meggan, if you would have told me you was coming as Mera, I would have chose something else!" The character breaks, as Megan's voice carries the young woman's pleasantness with, a stark contrast to the usual Mera attitude.

Meggan Puceanu has posed:
Moonage Daydream croons in the background as someone feels the need to play Bowie where it's involved with aliens. Aliens painted glorious greens and blues, maybe to better fit with some archaic 1960s motif of minidresses and v-neck tunics. They all stand together in ridiculous poses with their ridiculous fake blaster guns pointed up safely so the fluttering crowd of admirers can take photos with their cameras. The more serious photographers take advantage of the trees or a stretch of concrete paving exclusively set aside for their use, away from the regular pedestrian attendees.

So is the third Mera swept by some random shutterbug eager to take photos of everything. And then the second Mera gets an 'oooh, I saw her hair on Kawaii Party!' and the first gets a gimlet stare from the faux-annoyed mortal in the rice-ball van.

"Look, how was /I/ supposed to know? You are so picky! You and your... sister.....s." The stretch of an S spills out as three Meras of relative Meritude apply their joint power on hustling her back to laugh and check out the refrigerated prep line for said tuna rice ball. Then salmon. Possibly crab at this rate. Whilst there is no evidence of a trident, a pair of golden sai artfully given a bit of shell at Meggan's sides do the trick. She, too, has a definite scale-outfit going on to the degree it might just be scales that the Martian would assuredly find common with. Modesty isn't fully in her bailiwick, but hey, it's not going to earn her an arrest for partial nudity either. Shifting her weight to her heel, the British Atlantean tilts her head to offer Maryra a good long look of appreciation. Her gaze rests on the pointed fork, then back to the woman. "Chicken. Such an ignoble choice. Next it will be /octopus/ and then for that blighted offering, I'd wash away the truck."

Mary Bromfield has posed:
Maryra grins cheerfully at Meggra (as opposed to M'gra), then says haughtily, "Indeed. I would think that would be too much to expect, though if they had shrimp, on the other hand... the coffers of Atlantis would pay for such a dear prize." She looks about to continue, then turns and smiles at the third Mera, or in this case, M'gra. Then she blinks as the third one speaks, recognizing her as...

"Wow! You were Aerith at that party a while back! And now Mera too? That is /so/ cool!" Far from being affronted at all the Meras, Mary actually is tickled that so many cosplayers were on the same wavelength. "That is amazing, and I love what you did with the costume." She pauses, then adds, "We have /got/ to meet up later so you can show me how you do it so authentically." She gives M'gann a warm smile, radiating sincerity as she does so.

M'gann M'orzz has posed:
    M'gann, hereby known as M'gra, is temporarily spun away for that photographer, who she willingly poses for. And the pose is most definitely Mera-esque...but only as soon as the photog gets the photo. Then, it is all smiles as she tilts a wave and rejoins the school of Meras. "Well, that was unexpected."

    M'gra lies. She knew exactly that the intent was there. Some thoughts are louder than others.

    Though, as Maryra recognizes Megan's voice, she offers a smile and actually blushes. "Oh, you recognized me from that? You must have been at the club. I didn't post any pictures of my Aerith dress on my Istagram. Well...I didn't have one until afterwards. Seems people really thought I needed one."

    There is a flip of red hair, then a smile for Mary. "Not sure if we met then, so meeting again! Hi, I'm Megan."

    Then a smile is given to Meggan. "Oh, octopus. Yes...that should not be offered unless they shall suffer the wrath of the ocean. I am fond of living octopi." Is that a Mera channeling? Or perhaps something more, just between Meggan and Megan?

Meggan Puceanu has posed:
Meggra tilts her head imperiously, inhaling a deep breath that could portend someone screaming in a hysterical rage at high volume, possibly going supersonic. Be as that may, the huff of disdain adds a cavalier element to their involvement. "How selfish to withhold shrimp from us. Are we not the rainy day they hold such luxuries back for? I shall never understand how these weak children of the land can be tolerated. Arthur is too kind to them." Atlanna's choices remain kind of suspect, otherwise.

Tonguing her lower lip and moistening her mouth, the gesture almost gives a sensation of tasting the air. "That's absolutely the truth. A dear prize for tiger prawns and the plumpest shrimp. Perhaps this whole sorry affair can be rectified if..." Trailing off follows with her, echoing that possibility of humans fixing their existence. Or maybe there's really shrimp on the menu and her rice ball is missing chopped happiness! Maryra is absolutely right. On that, and that Aerith herself is present as the M'gra. "Another with perfect taste."

The semblance to Mera is probably pretty canny, unnaturally so, though Meggra has the same transparency of mind she always does, which might break the gig up. "Megan. Meggan. And..." A nod. "Trident Mera." This warrants a hint of a smirk, though it's too sweet on Mera's face to /be/ Mera. Because this is what she sufferings. "Octopi are satisfying and intellectual. It's remarkable how bright they are. I could never eat one."

Mary Bromfield has posed:
Maryra nods, "I agree completely, and we did, in fact, meet there. Though I wasn't really dressed up too much for the party, Megan. I'm Mary." She smiles brightly at Megan, offering her a hand. "I did get your instagram info though, and you really do amazing work. I mostly just stream games and don't get much of a chance to cosplay as much as I'd like..."

Then she pauses, looking towards the far more Imperious Mera of the group. "I suspect that if we provide proper recompense, as befits our station, they will serve us with the shrimp that we most assuredly deserve, Meggan." She then tosses the server at the food truck a wink, knowing how hard it has to be on that side of the counter from her own experience. She then chuckles, "Megan and Meggan... that's not going to get confusing."

M'gann M'orzz has posed:
    "Oh, Mary! Yes, I remember now! Yes, well...the Aerith was really just me having fun for no good reason." There is a smile as Megan takes Mary's hand. "But it is good to meet you again!" A hesitation, then realization. "Oh! You're @ContraryMary! See, I should have put two and two together. I watch your streams from time to time...when classes allow." There *may* be a slight shrug with an all-too innocent look upon Megan's face...definitely odd with the Mera stylings.

    Then, with a slight smirk that is definitely more M'gra, Megan speaks. "Yes. We found it amusing as well, though it should be quite alright. We will know who is who, even if no one else does."

Meggan Puceanu has posed:
Imperious Mera who is, in her right, prone to beaming with the kind of luminous smile Mera isn't known for turning on just about anyone. Maybe Arthur. Maybe sharks she's about to tear apart. Meggan isn't the one capable of handling that answer. She puts her wrist to her nose, stifling a soft laugh, responding with that gilded warmth. Stand close enough, she might warm up the air. "Shrimp shall be our highest concern. Oh, turn, darlings. They brave our presence to acquire our likeness for their memory." Striking a taller pose, she stares down the length of her nose and the smile dies out entirely. She's probably practiced that in the mirror more than a few times.

"Aerith has the loveliest braid. Did you have the basket of flowers too?" she asks between snaps. "That's the /saddest/ story, too. Absolutely gutting. But you won't hear me complaining about ContraryMary /and/ oh-- the cosplay side. Yes. I have you on my follower list somewhere!" Which is something, considering she's got... followers. Scads of followers, total heaps, and a smaller chunk to chase after.

Mary Bromfield has posed:
Trident Mera smiles, "Oh, you're /Meggan/? Wow, that's awesome... yeah, I've been following you for a while. I love your work!" She chuckles, "And yes, I'm @ContraryMary. Also I run the BaristaCats account on Twitter, which hasn't been getting as much done lately with my new internship." She pauses, then adds, "Turns out it kinda is awkward when you're no longer a barista to run that account, but I've been managing..."

She then nods in agreement with Meggan about the braid, and looks back at Megan, "But I'm glad you watch the streams! Always nice to meet someone who does. Anything particular that you like? I mean, I tend to do a variety of stuff, so I always like getting feedback."

M'gann M'orzz has posed:
    "Oh, I tend to watch the RPGs. Gives me ideas for future ensembles." There is a tip of a wink from Megan as she speaks. Then, speaking of RPGs, she turns to Meggan with a grin. "Oh, I did a minor deviation. I took Aerith's red dress she wore at Wall Market, but I shortened the skirt to make it more suitable for the club. And I didn't go fully for the hair, but kept it reasonable. But yes, the classic Aerith would be so fun to do, as well."

Meggan Puceanu has posed:
Food is well and truly delivered up at least for the Meggra. Maryra and M'gra are going to have to quicken their choices before the line grows much longer. She can't resist the warm rice worked into a ball with the heart filled by various piscine treasures. Coins exchanged and a few bills pushed along, Meggan departs a few steps to the side with her treat. "Oh, the red dress would need a few inches taken up if you were going to a club. Especially to dance." Shimmering scales catch the light as she flexes to make the point more indicative, this time laughing.

"Barista Cats is you too? You have the eye of a few people of significance on you, isn't it? Are you happy not to be a barista any longer or do you miss it? It seems like such a happy and social job. "

Mary Bromfield has posed:
Mary smiles over at Meggan, "Yeah, I miss it a little bit, but I always wanted to be a reporter. It's why I'm in school, and when the internship came up at the Planet... well, I just had to take it." She chuckles, "Don't tell anyone, but I've got a photographer incognito here taking a few pictures for an article I'm writing later."

She grins and orders the house rice ball, which has enough seafood in it to restock a small aquarium, then looks over at M'gann. "Hey, what'd you want? My treat. It is a paid internship..." She grins, and whispers conspiratorially to M'gann, "Besides, this is a work expense, so it's on the Planet's dime." Her eyes twinkle with amusement.

M'gann M'orzz has posed:
    An honest laugh escapes from M'gann as she turns towards the food truck and hooks a thumb back towards Mary. "I will have what she is having." Something easy enough...to which the person behind the counter is grateful for. And, honestly, how often does one have minor social media celebrities standing in line?

    Oh, but then that calls for another photographer asking for a pic. Megan provides, rather quickly, then back to the business of speaking to M and M. "Oh, you have a photographer roaming around working for you? I bet I could pick him out if we wanted." There is definitely a playful wink given to Mary, then another laugh. "But, I wouldn't do that to the poor guy. If people knew they could get into the Planet, well....he would be swamped with requests. And we can't have that."

    Meggan gets a slight nudge with a hip, and a winning smile for her, too. "Well, yes, that was my thought. The heels and the length of the dress she had would had made it much too difficult for dancing. You saw how hard it was for her to even walk, and she gets the benefit of being pixels that can do anything. Reality is a little different for most of us." Most....but not all.

Meggan Puceanu has posed:
"Oh! That's brilliant. The newspaper in Metropolis has great readership and they still seem to care a great deal about facts and neutral reporting. Investigative journalism is a dying breed if you ask me." Media savvy she may be, but the Mera-ggan frowns for just a moment. "I won't tell anyone, be assured. Just our luck, they'll spot one of those Korean boy bands out making their latest video." In Bludhaven? Stranger things have happened.

Though tipping her wash of fiery hair, she feigns a look of slyness while munching into that rice ball. Girl's gotta eat, after all. The opinion she holds over the food looks to be pretty high, her eyes half-closed in merciful delight rather than wrath. Nodding as M'gra explains her preferences of costume, she obviously can't speak considering that she has a mouthful of rice. "Mmm."

Mary Bromfield has posed:
Mary grins and takes the rice balls, giving one of the mammoth entities over to Megan, "Voila." She laughs a little at Megan's offer to pick out the photographer, "Nah, I think he's feeling self-conscious as it is, but yeah, I'm looking for a bit of a gonzo journalism homage, according to my mentor, Mister Kent. He's pretty cool, for being so old." She pauses, then smiles over at the other Meras.

"Hey, would you mind if I selfie with you two? Just to pose something of a tease for the article later? The Planet is a great place to work, but... um, they don't really know how social media works. Or rather, they didn't until I got in there." She smiles a little self-consciously, as she says absently to Megan, "And I don't imagine you'd ever have a problem dancing." She blinks as that slips out, a bit of a blush touching her cheeks then.

M'gann M'orzz has posed:
    The rice ball is taken with thanks, the expression upon Megan's face purely her own, rather than an attempt at her muse for the occasion. She balances the tasty treat with one hand, while she offers a wave to the food truck as the terrible trio finally vacate it, to the relief of those inside. "Ah! Well, good to know you are enjoying your internship so much! I have heard of some stories of less fortunate encounters, if what I heard was true."

    Then, while Meggan is enjoying her rice ball, and both Mary and Megan with their own, that is when a selfie is proffered? Sure, why not!? With a chuckle, as she shifts the rice ball from one hand to the other, Megan chuckles. "Right now, with food in hand? Why, Miss Mary, you sure know how to catch me at my best." The tease is light and harmless, as Mary does receive a positive response. "But sure, I would be happy to."

Mary Bromfield has posed:
Mary grins over at Megan, "Why, it's what a reporter does, right?" With that, she sets her rice ball down, and actually puts an arm around Megan, leaning in so the pair of Meras can be caught, with Meggra looming imperiously in the background. Grinning brightly, she holds up the smartphone and *clickCLICK* the picture is taken!

"There, now I have something to tease readers about later. And thanks, I really appreciate it Megan." She pauses, then nods, "The Planet... it's very old school journalism, and really, that's something we need right now. More than ever, with everything else going on in the world."

M'gann M'orzz has posed:
    Oh, right now! Okay! Megan's thoughts race as she contemplates what to do with her rice ball. The hand holding the food ducks around behind her back as the other hand circles around Mary's own waist. Then (with only Meggra behind to see), that hand releases the rice ball, with Megan having it just float there behind her with a little telekinetic suggestion as the now free hand reaches up, offering a wave as the picture is taken, then quickly snaking back to recover the rice ball.

    Real subtle there. Maybe Mary won't notice.

    Then, picture taken, Megan slowly relinquishes Mary from the casual embrace. "Well, always willing to do my part! In whatever capacity I can..."

Mary Bromfield has posed:
Mary smiles, slowly letting Megan go herself as she doesn't seem to be in a particular rush. If she noticed the rice ball thing, it's not entirely clear as she tilts her head, "Well, I dunno about help but... um, hey. Ever do Dungeons and Dragons? Because I'm doing a stream of a game soon that I'm playing in, we could use a stand-in, and I think it'd be a great signal boost for you. Plus, I mean, if you have the stuff for cosplay, you could show up in costume and it would be wicked. Nothing too fancy, I have some things too, and... well, if it isn't a bother or anything?"

Meggan Puceanu has posed:
Meggan's thoughts simmer away in contentment, the sort of delight someone takes in being around their smarter and savvier friends. She's just happy to be there, and the icy facade drops for a dreamier outlook. The rice on her fingers, she strikes a pose with the Victory fork overhead just in case someone needs that additional bit of help to launch their website or Insta feed into the higher realms.

"Cosplay /and/ journalism. So cool. You would never imagine the tabloids back home giving any time to it. They'd rather show off some bar girl's bosom or natter on about the bottom-most dregs in the barrel. Shameful." She glances back lightly to the M'gra and Maryra with an impish nose-wiggle. No telling, but her thoughts certainly catch notice. <<Clever girl!>>

"Ooh! Do you play the druid or the warlock or do you go old school with the like solid 3.5 edition and the scads of prestige classes? Because they're awfully shiny. You /should/ do it, though, if she's offering. It would be amazing."

M'gann M'orzz has posed:
    <<Thanks!>>

    It is a quick thought to Meggan, but Meggra has had experience with Megan before. Still, the mental praise brings a smile to Megan's face...a smile that shifts until an expression of pondering as Mary asks about Dungeons and Dragons. "Hmm....I haven't actually played the table top version before, though I have certainly played some of the video games that use it as a basis. But, I am a real fast learner. If you really wanted a novice there, then I suppose it wouldn't hurt much to do so. I could always ask Tim...I know he loves to play. He could give me a crash course if you wanted me to have some experience before just jumping right in." Then, a beat. "Oh, is there actually a certain character you needed? It would help to know so I could come up with something, if you wanted the costume and all."

    Well, Megan certainly seems willing. That's always a plus.

Mary Bromfield has posed:
Mary nods, "Well, we have a couple different needs... and hey, we're doing Fifth, Meggan, it's just easier that way, less crunchy and the rules are out of your way so you can just play." She smiles, "Well, I'm playing a barbarian, we have a cleric, a rogue, and a sorcerer... so really, we're pretty well balanced. Anything works, if you had an idea or if something would work for you."

She smiles a bit, "Plus, it's not for a few days, so you do have some time. We can get things set up for you. And if you need me to help, Megan, I'd be more than happy to do so."