test drive meme # 4

[acatamods]

I ▫ main IV ▫ premise       XI ▫ applications XIV ▫ activity II ▫ logs V ▫ rules VII ▫ bestiary   IX ▫ canon updates XII ▫ taken XV ▫ drop/hiatus III ▫ ooc VI ▫ faq VIII ▫ setting   X ▫ mods XIII ▫ reserves XVI ▫ players test drive meme #4 It happens in the blink of an eye. One moment, you are home. Perhaps you are with your family, perhaps you are at work. It's a completely normal day . . . and then, suddenly, your stomach drops. You are overcome with a sudden sense of vertigo. You cannot see up, or down, or where you are. All you hear is a voice -- light, bubbly, warm, soothing, in your ear: Don't worry, darling. This won't hurt a bit~ ♥ For those who recognize the voice, it will sound a bit strained. Possibly tired. But the moment happens so quickly it's hard to pin down, and once that moment is over, you fall flat on your face. It's bright, warm, and humid. It takes a few seconds for you to gain composure and catch your breath. You think, for half a moment, that a hand is on your back, rubbing between your shoulder blades in comfort, but when you open your eyes, no one is there. You are surrounded by ancient stone buildings, with carvings you do not recognize etched into the stone. There's a sense of nausea, overwhelming and sudden, when you realize you aren't in Kansas anymore. Even worse, it looks like Astoria has started to feel a bit festive, maybe even a little spooky. THE TEMPLE OF BEGINNINGS. Welcome to the "Home Base" of Astoria's Circle. What the actual name of the base is called is lost to the ages, and there's no sense of where you could find it, unless you started asking around. At any rate, this is a central hub of the Circle, a place of powerful magic and mysterious energy. It is a scattering of ancient stone buildings and for the most part, it looks abandoned . . . except for what seems to be a few items, some rooms taken, items moved or organized, even a small garden planted. These are just the smallest hints that there are people here that have been here before you arrived. Overall, it's fairly beautiful. However, it is definitely not modern. Upon exploration, you find that the buildings are kept up by some kind of magic. Some of the rooms have items, things from other Circle members already settled, and others appear to be unclaimed. Pick your rooms, explore the grounds, see the beauty and wonder all around you in such a magical place. However, be careful -- there is some additional movement around the Temple that seems specific to the time of year. THE GREAT PUMPKIN. Fall has certainly arrived in the Circle . . . rich colors adorn the leaves, a crisp breeze is in the air . . . and in the center of the Temple itself appears to be a massive pumpkin. And, really, the word massive doesn't appear to do the gourd justice. It is nearly twelve feet tall and twelve feet wide, round and bulbous in nature. But what is even more bizarre is that the entire structure seems hollow . . . and the front of it, in a Jack-O'-Lantern facade, has a large grinning face. No one says you have to go inside it, but if you're so inclined to scale through the mouth of the massive Jack-O'-Lantern, you will find a couple of things inside! One, the thing seems to be full of bowls of candy. Some candy might look familiar, but most of it looks a little weird. Two, there are floating candles spread throughout the pumpkin, creating odd shadows that cast about as the sun goes down. Three, the pumpkin changes expressions throughout the day. When you aren't looking, it goes from grimacing to smiling -- and it never seems to happen when you look! Have fun celebrating the holiday, Circle. Astoria is just getting started. SPOOKY SCARY SKELETONS. If the pumpkin wasn't quite enough of a giveaway that Astoria has become spookily inspired to welcome her new guests, then this will have to do. Because right along the outside of the Temple of Beginnings, there seems to be a somewhat constant and fairly thick fog. It's the kind of fog that makes you think there's something there. And with some exploration, you'll find...there is. Right in the distance there is movement, unnatural and sporadic. Any further investigation into the movement will involve you moving further and further into the fog. But be careful, because this fog is thick enough to lose sight of where you've come from. With enough time, you can catch up with the movement, to find that what you've heard and seen just beyond your peripheral, are...skeletons. Animated skeletons. They're humanoid, almost cartoon, and are moving with little to no direction. They just seem to be shambling in whatever direction they can, with no purpose or reason. They are entirely harmless. Except that if you get too curious, and get close enough to touch them, their heads will jerk towards you. They won't do much more, until you try and step away. It seems that by touching the skeletons, you've attracted their attention, and as you try to move away from them they will follow. And as they follow, they will attract the attention of other skeletons, and others, and others. If you're not careful, you'll collect an army. They will not follow you across the boundary around the Temple of Beginnings, but everywhere else you wander, you will have an entourage. Depending on how long you spend with your skeletons friends, you might even find out that they will answer simple commands. Like dance. FALL FEAST. No matter how Astoria's thoughts on holiday cheer, she seems to have at least gotten one fall related item down- because on one of the days, you will wake up and find that in the middle of the Temple of Beginnings, where there is usually some green space and open grass, is now a very large table, extravagantly decorated. It seems to go on forever in each direction, which feels...a little impossible (but what isn't impossible here?) with plenty of chairs. The table has been decorated with fall ornaments (anyone familiar with the American 'Thanksgiving' will find quite a few similarities) with the only difference instead being the wide variety of food available. Astoria is not limited to Turkey and Stuffing on this day - but rather, almost any kind of food or drink (minus any kind of magical abilities it may contain) is here on this table. Food and snacks from every reach of every world and galaxy is on display. Maybe you're going to spend some time searching out your favorite from home, or maybe you're feeling adventurous and want to try a piece of whatever is in front of you - you think it might be some kind of potatoes? If potatoes were slightly bioluminescent? Also, did that side dish move just now? COMMUNICATIONS. Upon arriving, you will notice on whichever is your non-dominant hand, you will have a fairly simply screen. A smart watch, if you will. Upon exploration, you will find that it has a directory of all those here with you at the Temple of Beginnings- names, and access to a direct message to them. The watch also has video, audio, and text capabilities, as well as what looks like a collection of messages sent to everyone who wishes to open them. This is your 'network', and also how Astoria can reach out and communicate with you. There is nothing keeping you from removing and/or losing your watch! But remember that you will not have access to this network without it. OOC: Also feel free to join us and other possible players on our discord server! enjoy! ♥

Comments

iii

[explosivo]

Sure fucking have
Can you fix this shit

[eraserdad]

[...that name can't possibly be a coincidence.]

not yet, unfortunately

[Cause you can bet he's going to be investigating This Shit. He's-- honestly--a bit pissed off that his student has been dragged into this. At least he's an adult. Bakugo's got plenty of raw natural talent, but he's still just a kid.]

in the meantime, we'll practice fighting without them

[He's still Bakugo's teacher, after all, and it's doubly important to watch out for him now that they're in this situation together.]

consider it part of the training for your license

[explosivo]

[ somehow this is annoying, it's not even as if eraser is even really trying to be considerate or anything but... look, he gets annoyed at damn well everything ESPECIALLY THIS.

his power that he's had all his life and is gone. ]

Yeah I'm not gonna be helpless or anything all right damn I'm fucking fine [ let's not mention... he is kind of nervous without it but shut up!! ]

Or what are you implying I need extra training even more than I already do??? [ ANNOYING... ]

[eraserdad]

[s i g h. why are you like this, child.]

since ua isn't here, we'll be doing extra training to cover your absences
that's all there is to it

[He doesn't respond to either the obvious bait or the attempt at bravado. Obviously this is difficult; he doesn't expect it not to be. But he's not about to let Bakugo flounder on his own for his pride. He's got a job to do, even here.]

[explosivo]

[ absent......... ] I'm not ABSENT because I WANT TO BE
If you're putting it that way YOU'RE just as absent as I am you know??

[ he's just Constantly Mad. ]

[eraserdad]

i don't need my license, now do i?

[explosivo]

[ shut... ]

I'm getting mine
I'm getting it no matter how many kids I have to babysit or how many skeletons I have to fight with my bare hands or anything

[eraserdad]

good
i expect to see you for training tomorrow morning, then
8 am

[explosivo]

[ well he hadn't expected eraser to take it easy if removed from u.a. or anything but this is kind of... hard-assed...

no complaints though, he wouldn't actually mind it. ]

Yeah
Sure

Come to think of it how could you even tell if your power was missing or not [ given the nature of it and everything. ]

[eraserdad]

[It's the UA way. Plus Ultra.

As for the question--well...this is public, but no point being cagey about it, he supposes.]

tried to activate it when i heard that voice in my head
again when i saw her
even if it didn't work, it should've activated

[Erasure was useless on the Nomu back in USJ, but it had activated. Even when he tries now, there's nothing.]

[explosivo]

[ that makes sense enough. too bad, if he could've erased her power of being-a-pain-in-the-ass that might make things simpler. ]

Apparently she gave us a power to make up for it
I dunno what mine is though

[ the whole power swappy thing is kind of suspicious for various reasons, but he supposes eraser isn't in the know... oh well. ]

[eraserdad]

i suppose we'll just have to wait for them to manifest

[Great, fantastic, he totally wants to have a four year old's understanding and control over whatever his new quirk is while also supervising Bakugo with his. Awesome.]

[explosivo]

[ damn, it's like powers reveal as a kid all over again. ]

Mine better be something badass
Gonna be hard to top my explosions though

[eraserdad]

a quirk is only as strong as its user
you know that as well as anyone, bakugo

[In typical Aizawa fashion it's support & admonishment both; he knows Bakugo hasn't gotten this far on pure power, but his student does tend to get tunnel vision where these things are concerned. (He's not fool enough to say it aloud, but Bakugo's a bit like Midoriya in that way)

If nothing else, this period of relative quirklessness might be good for Bakugo to hone his other strengths.]

[explosivo]

I know that
I'm just saying
I have a fucking brand to maintain all right?? I want something GOOD not that it can make up for this shit [ he's barely going to say it, he misses his power. but he does. so much.

having it all his life and it being gone is almost surreal to him, it barely sinks in this much still. ]

[eraserdad]

something with offensive power, you mean

[maybe you wanna

rethink that statement, buddy.]

[explosivo]

Obviously
Is there any other option [ the best defense is a good offense as far as he's concerned. ]

[eraserdad]

think about it
which are the most dangerous villains you've faced so far?

[Aizawa seems to remember a certain member of the League of Villains who had a non- combat-oriented Quirk during that forest lodge incident, after all]

[explosivo]

[ fine, he can see what aizawa's trying to get at here. still-- ] That's not my style
I have my own way of doing things with the power I prefer
Don't tell me you don't

[eraserdad]

i'm telling you to keep your options open
a good hero doesn't rely on only one trick

[explosivo]

[ ..........

fine. fine.

something he'd be loath to say out loud because it's admitting so much weakness, but-- ]

I don't like this
I've always had my power
I miss it

[ he barely knows what to do without it. the thought of anything else is... something he'd struggle to consider. ]

[eraserdad]

[Aizawa's not surprised Bakugo feels this way, but the confession is unexpected. It takes a couple minutes for a response to arrive.]

i'm not saying give up on it
this isn't necessarily permanent
but in the meantime, adapt
take the opportunity to hone your other strengths and shore up your weaknesses

[explosivo]

[ on the bright side he isn't grabbing someone and trying to wreck their shit before breaking down so this is. a step up.

and admitting this to eraserhead is... both something he hates but also helplessly craved. wanting to try to rely on someone else, at least a little. ]

Yeah
I'll do that

[ also the thought that this is temporary... have to hold onto that, or he might panic more. ]

[eraserdad]

[He's definitely glad he's fielding this rather than breaking up another fight with Midoriya. That said, he'll check in on Bakugo later. Just because they're in a different world doesn't mean his job is any different; he has an obligation to protect and support his students as long as he's able.]

good
go get some rest, then
i'll see you in the morning

[explosivo]

[ if he were any less stifled than he is he might possibly consider saying thanks. the fact that losing his power makes him this nervous is something he already hates, something he already tries to ignore or push past or try not to think about when the truth is he'd better not think of it or it might make him just that much more ready to panic or implode.

but aizawa listening helps.

he's probably only said thanks to all might, and that was after the rescue. he almost types it out, then stops. ]

See you tomorrow

[ maybe he'll just be quietly grateful for now. ]