Hassan gave me a new way to see the City

[Scarlet Shocker]

I needed to test something quickly so I generated a character and zoned straight into Atlas. Easy enough and then Real Life^(tm) started to distract me somewhat, as I was running around. With limited attention, I latched onto Hassan, who was taking a stroll in Atlas Park. It was the middle of the day, and the sun was shining. Thankfully, for the first time in ages, it wasn't raining in Atlas Park.

 

Hassan was about 45, give or take, reasonably well dressed, probably working in one of the few office blocks that hadn't been devastated by the Council, Clockwork or similar. He was quiet, unassuming, not terribly talkative to be fair, but polite enough. He raised his hand to acknowledge me and continued on his way.

 

So in my semi-distracted way I decided to follow him using the F key. Nothing unusual in that I guess. We've all done that before I'm sure.

 

But in this instance it was different. As I went about my other Real Life^(tm) related business I was able to watch my screen as Hassan and I took quite an extended constitutional perambulation across the open vistas of Atlas Park.

 

And I have to tell you I was very pleased that I did. It gave me something that I'm not sure I had known before, a "snail's eye" view of the city from the perspective of one of the most put-upon characters in the game; the Pedestrian. It also allowed me to marvel at the architecture of the city, discover a couple of nooks and crannies heretofore unseen, and kick Hellion arse while Hassan continued his aimless meanderings.

 

I observed my display as one might observe a more interesting screen saver for close on 30 minutes until Hassan, clearly bored with my unhindered stalking, led me to a large group of Hellions and that character has since gone to the realms where pixelated characters go when they cease to be. He waved politely as I collapsed on the ground, struck down by mortal wounds, and wandered off, unlikely to ever be seen again in that iteration.

 

But during our little excursion I was able to focus on t he city rather than the foes, the mission, the badges, the things that usually preoccupy my time in our beloved urban metropolis and just take a view driven by someone else and that was not simply relaxing but refreshing and gave me a greater appreciation of our environment.

 

I recommend it to you all. Perhaps we should initiate some walking tours around our fair demense.

 

 

[Snarky]

Okay. Now if you see Snarky following a pedestrian in Atlas I do not want to hear a word about it. It was all Scarlet Shockers idea. So talk to them not me. 

[Clave Dark 5]

... But I don't understand, how many merits did you get???

 

[Monty Haull]

1 hour ago, Snarky said:

Okay. Now if you see Snarky following a pedestrian in Atlas I do not want to hear a word about it. It was all Scarlet Shockers idea. So talk to them not me. 

And if you see Monty following Snarky, who is following a pedestrian, because of Scarlet Shockers idea...

[ChzBoi]

......I smell a conga line.......

[Scarlet Shocker]

2 hours ago, Clave Dark 5 said:

... But I don't understand, how many merits did you get???

 

 

The entire concept has merit! 🙃

[High_Beam]

2 hours ago, ChzBoi said:

......I smell a conga line.......

I smell multiple restraining orders.

[Ghost]

1 hour ago, High_Beam said:

I smell multiple restraining orders.

Snarky has got to be approaching the limit to how many of those can be put on one person

[Snarky]

11 minutes ago, Ghost said:

Snarky has got to be approaching the limit to how many of those can be put on one person

Not according to my barrister.

[Shenanigunner]

I've followed citz around like that. Never thought of it quite in that way, though.

[JasperStone]

4 hours ago, ChzBoi said:

......I smell a conga line.......

Oh god

...

Can you imagine a power that invites you to conga

Yes Please!

Edited February 24 by JasperStone

[Luminara]

Hassan gave you to the Hellions.  He noticed you following him and led you straight into a trap.  He's clearly working with them, possibly even a high-ranking member posing as an innocent citizen specifically to do this to heroes.

 

[Scarlet Shocker]

2 hours ago, Shenanigunner said:

I've followed citz around like that. Never thought of it quite in that way, though.

 

Now I'm wondering why you'd follow them like that and...

 

Well let's just say all my psionic characters are reeling in disgust. 🤣

[Scarlet Shocker]

2 hours ago, Luminara said:

Hassan gave you to the Hellions.  He noticed you following him and led you straight into a trap.  He's clearly working with them, possibly even a high-ranking member posing as an innocent citizen specifically to do this to heroes.

 

 

 

I'm going to be completely serious for a moment because you genuinely made me consider something I'd not until reading this.

 

In anything like a real world situation what I did to Hassan could be considered real abuse. And if the boot were on the other foot and somebody with immense power suddenly started following me around, I'd be positively terrified. Doubly so if the authorities were known to be on their side.

 

So maybe you're right. Just maybe I terrified him and he led me there to save himself. He could have just asked me to stop following him though. Not a peep.

[Luminara]

1 minute ago, Scarlet Shocker said:

In anything like a real world situation what I did to Hassan could be considered real abuse.

 

Unless the person you were trailing wanted you to follow him/her so he/she could lead you into a trap.  I've seen movies, I know what happens to people who follow other people.  They end up in someone's hamburger, or with a "Now, that's a knife" knife pressed under their willie, or worse!

[PeregrineFalcon]

24 minutes ago, Luminara said:

Unless the person you were trailing wanted you to follow him/her so he/she could lead you into a trap.  I've seen movies, I know what happens to people who follow other people.  They end up in someone's hamburger, or with a "Now, that's a knife" knife pressed under their willie, or worse!

 

[Luminara]

2 minutes ago, PeregrineFalcon said:

 

 

...

 

Note to self: carry a few spare kidneys and start following people.

[High_Beam]

18 hours ago, Scarlet Shocker said:

In anything like a real world situation what I did to Hassan could be considered real abuse. And if the boot were on the other foot and somebody with immense power suddenly started following me around, I'd be positively terrified. Doubly so if the authorities were known to be on their side.

Well if it was anything like the real world than people with metahuman powers would either be property of a corporation, agents of a government, wanted criminals or dead.

[Oubliette_Red]

48 minutes ago, High_Beam said:

Well if it was anything like the real world than people with metahuman powers would either be property of a corporation, agents of a government, wanted criminals or dead.

 

Or hiding their abilities and doing everything they can to not draw attention to themselves.

 

[Oubliette_Red]

19 hours ago, Scarlet Shocker said:

 

 

I'm going to be completely serious for a moment because you genuinely made me consider something I'd not until reading this.

 

In anything like a real world situation what I did to Hassan could be considered real abuse. And if the boot were on the other foot and somebody with immense power suddenly started following me around, I'd be positively terrified. Doubly so if the authorities were known to be on their side.

 

So maybe you're right. Just maybe I terrified him and he led me there to save himself. He could have just asked me to stop following him though. Not a peep.

 

Also, just because the game mechanics use 'F'ollow mechanics, the point of view you told to us was more along the lines of you and Hassan were enjoying a friendly stroll together through the city with not a lot of chatting but a lot of taking in the view and contemplating life in general, like Atlas Park was a giant zen garden and your were meandering about you path. I didn't find it creepy at all.

 

It actually reminded me of an occurrence back on Legacy with a friend I RP'd with, we were sitting outside Mrs. Peebles bar enjoying a meal and conversing when another player came up, talked to Peebles and was about to bound off when the turned and observed us for a few moments before saying in local that they originally thought that we were NPC's. I think that's the best compliment and RP'er can get. XD

 

[Luminara]

On 2/24/2024 at 3:24 PM, PeregrineFalcon said:

 

 

[Marshal_General]

I was following someone once, and then she noticed me and started running.

 

Then it became a race.