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acatalepsy_ooc2018-10-19 02:32 pm
acatamods) wrote in acatalepsy_ooc2018-10-19 02:32 pm
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test drive meme # 4
 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! ♥ |
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....
and closes it again because good point.]
He'll ... uh... yo, he won't letchu outta his sight! Not 'til he sure you ain't up to somethin'!
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You expect me to prove the absence of something? That's not very fair of you. [In science it was kind of impossible!! But he doesn't expect Beat to know that, so really he's just trying to make the guy feel guilty.]
I don't suppose I get a say in this, do I?
I am so used to RPing in discord I forget to switch back from he to I, dangit
And really, they were alive because of it, right?
Dangit. Yeah now he is kinda feeling guilty.]
... Fine. Fine, yo. I don' trust you like Phones does, but you didn't erase Shibuya an' you brought Rhyme back too. [Grumbles under his breath about MAYBE Josh being - not okay but maybe something resembling okay.]
laughs NO PROBLEMO MY DUDE
[He chuckles heartily to himself-- because it's a lot easier to be sassy about that than actually address the thing about Shibuya and Rhyme. He'd never really spoken to any of them after that final duel with Neku. This was... not exactly how he imagined their next meeting going.]
In fact, if I recall correctly, you were the one that spent a week beating up me and Neku. You're lucky I'm so forgiving~
[Yeah Beat might as well re-assess that "maybe resembling okay" opinion.]
bless you
And he'd rather not be alone.]
Listen, that Game was whack cuz of Shades, an' Shades was yer henchman, an' I had to attack you two cuz of Shades, so that means that's all yer fault. [So there.] 'Sides... you should be lucky I went so easy on you two the first two times 'round!
[SO THERE. Ignore the kinda guilty look there, he doesn't feel bad about that at all or anything.]
<3
[Sigh. Whatever. Arguing that was sort of pointless and also not very fun at all, so his expression falls a little more flat. Instead, what was more fun was focusing on that moment of guilt on Beat's expression.]
Oh, that's right-- you said we were too weak to bother erasing, right? [There we go, his smirk returns.] Have to say, I wasn't exactly shaking in my shoes. Seems the only person you really hurt was your friend Neku.
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He forgave me for that, yo... an' we wasn't friends at the time. [Yeah that argument sounds weak in Beats ears, too, and it trails off at the end into a murmur. The smirk makes him bristle though and he really wants to wipe that smirk away before he resorts to just punching it off.
Must not punch Neku's maybe-friend-at-least-partner. Must not.]
Least I didn't shoot an' lie to him!
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Lie to him? [Well, he had lied to Neku about a few things-- his plan, his entrance into the game, and of course who the Composer was-- but those had been necessary in order to win his game with Megumi, and to keep from being found out. Telling the truth about those would've seriously hurt Neku's performance.]
Funny, I don't remember that. He accused me of killing him quite a few times while we were partners, you know-- I never said that wasn't the case. And at least I'm not trying to brush that off by saying we weren't friends at the time.
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He won't. He'd like to think he learned some restraint those three weeks in the game and his time after. Right?]
I... [What could he say to that?! Joshua was right, after all.] Rrgh, jus' shut up, I know I screwed up, yo! Don' needchu rubbin' it in like yer all high an' mighty!
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You're the one acting high and mighty, holding me in suspicion for no reason. I'm just pointing out who's really got a bad track record here.
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Joshua is right though.
He has a notoriously bad track record and an even worse temper.
At least he pulls the punch at the last moment and tries to throw his aim off, but that's still his fist going towards Joshua's jaw.]
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He could step out of the way easily, or use his powers to stop Beat in his tracks. Really, there's a variety of ways to solve this problem for himself, but-- unfortunately, Joshua quickly realizes that he can't do any of that.
And before he can truly process that, that not even the most basic of his powers as Composer of Shibuya are working in that split second, and in the next second Beat's fist has already collided with his jaw.
Beat did pull his punch, but the guy is still pretty beefy, and definitely a lot more physically strong than Joshua was in this form. And without his powers, he was as lanky and weak as you'd expect a teenager of his stature, and so it still feels like he can feel the full force of the punch. It... hurt. Like, a lot?]
You--?! [But what's somehow more stinging is the shock that Beat could do that. This. Wasn't going according to plan, and it's impossible to hide that expression when one hand is quickly coming up to cradle his jaw, as the pain and inevitable bruising starts to set in.]
You punched me...!?
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Though he can't deny it felt rather good to clobber the priss this time around, especially now that he knows the truth about him.
Taking notice of the expression but not really comprehending what it fully means, Beat snorts to the question, rubbing his knuckles. A jaw is still a jaw, and it still stings to punch one.]
Sure did an' I'll do it 'gain if you don' quit bein' a jerk!
[Says the one who acted like the jerk from the beginning. The irony isn't lost on Beat and his stance softens, his face pulling into a look of guilt and concern. It also hasn't occurred to him yet that the retaliation for punching the Composer might have been brutal indeed. Might still be, he's unaware of Joshua's current vulnerable state.]
... Sorry, you di'nt really deserve that... You should get somethin' cold on that 'fore it begins to swell too bad.
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[There's genuine scorn and anger now-- something Joshua hasn't felt in... a long time. And it was a very very stupid thing to be angry about, but now he felt like an idiot, having got beamed in the face by an idiot.
He doesn't seem to recover his sense of amusement, but at least he did seem to regain his cool attitude. Which was... better than nothing? For him at least.] Please, spare me the platitudes. [He says, rubbing his face with clearly wounded pride.]
I don't need you of all people trying to help.
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Promise I ain't tryin' to give you attitudes, yo... an' well, there ain't 'zactly anyone else here at the moment is there?
[That seems to settle something in Beats mind and he turns away suddenly, looking around before heading off to try the buildings with a "hang on" to Joshua, clearly intent on finding either someone or something to help Joshua.
Of course he knows Joshua might take the moment he's gone to run and honestly, Beat wouldn't blame him if he did, who wants to stick around with someone who just up and socked them in the face.]
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[He was a lot more sullen than sassy admitting to that point; there wasn't really anyone else around, and frankly Joshua wasn't sure if Beat was smart enough to even pretend to be on his best behavior around other people. He may not have been there to watch Beat's behavior during the last week, but he'd still seen plenty during the first Reaper's Game.
Frankly, Joshua has ever reason to leave; Beat acted like he was doing something, but he didn't really think the guy had any intention of returning. It was frankly kind of a relief-- his pride wouldn't allow him to leave on his own, because running away felt like it would be a sign of weakness.
But when he thinks he's alone, he lets out a sigh that releases all the tension in his body, and steps over to the closest wall so he can lean his back against it and sort of droop in defeat. The initial shock had worn off along with the adrenaline, and now the spot where he'd been bunched was starting to make his entire jaw ache.
...Maybe he had gone too far, teasing Beat. Maybe. Perhaps.]
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Uh... couldn't find any icepacks or anythin', but there was water an' cloths.
[He either broke into a house or found an empty one, the details aren't important. What's important is he's moving cautiously closer to where Joshua had decided to lean against, like the other is a scared animal that might bolt, and holds out the wet cloth.]
Should be 'nuff, though... [He's also watching Joshua warily for signs of retaliation, though it's slowly dawning on him that if the Composer wasn't sending him flying, he might really be at the whim of that lady too.
He was telling the truth and Beat punched him.
Lordy.]
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The fact that Beat seems to look at him like a wounded animal is enough to override his surprise, though. It was more humiliating than getting beamed in the face, and so he musters himself up to swipe the cloth out of the other's hand with as much of a huff as possible.
...Still, he does use it and press it against the site of the bruise-- wincing for a split second at the initial contact, before pressing it on. It was an aggravatingly human experience, for someone that had not a day before had the power of a god.]
...I appreciate your... concern. [Ugh this was stupid he was gonna throw up] Perhaps I did underestimate you.
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Snorts to the underestimate thing and rubs at the back of his neck.]
I ain't all that bad, yo, you jus'... picked at things an' I uh... got a bit of a temper. [Understatement of the century.] Plus I thought you was not really up an' tellin' the truth, but you is, isn't you? 'Cuz you woulda fried me by now if this was yer Game stuff.
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He doesn't say anything else at first, but-- if his weakened state was obvious even to someone like Beat, then Joshua certainly had no hope of convincing him otherwise.]
I hope you aren't in the business of thinking I enjoy going about and murdering people on a whim. [He let out a facetious sigh, but then let his gaze fall aside, as he pressed his face against the cloth further. Damnit, it did sort of feel better.]
But it's like I said before. I didn't have anything to do with this place, and it certainly isn't the UG. [Probably, could've prevented a lot of trouble for yourself if you'd actually said that outright, Josh--] My powers have no effect here.