acatalepsy_ooc | test drive meme # 4

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test drive meme # 4

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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! ♥

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ehe... I try.

[It seemed like it was a compliment? Konoha isn't good at sarcasm, so she's not so sure since finding out that was a thing, but. Positive thinking, she'll take it as a compliment either way.]

What can you do, North? If it's anything like what I can do I could show you around...

[Well. Close enough.]

I'm versatile. I deal with whatever needs to be done.

[Mostly, though, she goes pew pew at people who get in her way.]

You said you can show me around if it's similar. What is it that you can do?

[Versitile? Well that sounds useful!]

Me?

[... Duh. Konoha waves a hand a bit dismissively to discount her own efforts, a bit embarrassed by her inability to actually contribute mentally to the problem of getting home.]

I just support everyone how I can. I work at a lumberyard back home so, any heavy hauling you need, lifting or carrying, I'm your girl! We jinba are strong, and I'm mountain stock, so I can handle most anything. I also cook and grow crops! My eggplants are doing real good!

[But... she is admittedly at least content in her work. After all, not everyone is smart or rich or talented! You need normal people to make anything work, and while she... basically really isn't normal as one of only two people in the Circle who don't look mostly human... She thinks she is!]

Then what you do contributes to the survival of your allies. [Well. Mostly the squishy, fleshy types with stomachs.] You should take pride in that.

[... It's not so much a pep-talk as it is her being mildly annoyed at that dismissive gesture. If someone isn't going to own what they do 100%, then what's the point? Either way, she's starting to get tired of standing around in a giant pumpkin when she can't even eat any of the candy here. So, uh. Picking up a bonbon from one of the bowls, she flicks it at the nearest wall. Watches it fall. Highkey misses having access to a bouncy ball burn off excess energy.]

I'm getting out of here. Was there something you needed to do?

[As in, she's not opposed to continuing this conversation elsewhere.]

Oh, I do! I think?

[She definitely feels like they need people like her... she just really hopes there are less like her and more like... super smart and experienced in traveling back to your proper world.

Konoha's expression... actually falls a bit at first, thinking with that phrasing that North was dismissing her. Well, if she wanted to leave, she wasn't about to stop her... arriving here was a chaotic process, after all, let alone acclimating, and... Wait...

She looks between the candy bowls and North before she finally points to herself in confusion.]

Uh- Wait, am I following you, or... ?

[Clarifying is good, right?]

That's up to you.

[She's leaving whether Konoha follows or not, so. She shrugs. It's entirely up to her whether she stays in candyland or walks and talks.]

Oh, um- one second!

[Konoha panics for a moment, gaze darting between her original goal of colorful and absurdly sweet smelling candy and the option of helping a newcomer... and chooses both, quickly stuffing some of the strange food into her basket before she trots off after North, hooves clopping loudly on the courtyard stones.]

Have you already picked out a room and everything? Found the kitchens?

[Well. Even if she's not exactly a people person, North still has enough decency to slow down and wait once Konoha asks for a second. It's not until she's caught up that she starts walking again, choosing not to comment on the candy. That stuff seems gross, please love yourself...]

Room, yes. Kitchens— [A second's pause, as she considers how blunt to be about this.] I don't need them.

[Who doesn't need the kitchens?

Konoha looks confused for a moment before she remembers- oh, yeah! The metal people. Er, "androids". Like A2, and like Connor. But just as quickly as her confused expression vanishes... nope, it's back. She's learned to associate the metal people in their ranks with certain traits- either being really heavy and dressing in black with light hair, like A2, 9S, and 2B did... Or with having a light on their temple, like Connor did.

But... this lady didn't look like that.]

Is... your stomach made of metal? I mean- do you not eat because you're metal?

[... so she should have phrased that better, but.]

[oh my god.

Konoha's first attempt at phrasing that question has North's eyebrows shooting up sky high. The second attempt is better, but North still huffs out an incredulous laugh. More like a puff of useless breath than anything else, really.]

I don't eat because I don't have a stomach. [No use in adding even a fake stomach when can't androids can't absorb nutrients. That's just wasteful.] But you're trying to ask if I'm an android, right?

[Unless there's some kind of other metal people in whichever fucky wucky land she came from? A mystery.]

[Oh- Phew. Konoha breathes a sigh of relief that North managed to get through her bungling and figure out exactly what she'd been trying to ask.]

Ah, yeah, sorry... ! I never know which word to use... Some of the metal people here use "android" and some use "robot" and some say "cyborg"...

[The differences are... not as clear to a peasant from 17th century Japan, but. She was attempting to not insult her, at least???]

So that's... what I was asking. They're the only people I know that don't eat.

[North can't think of any other humanoid that would be made out of metal, so she just kind of. Extrapolated. It could have been worse!]

Cyborgs are just humans with technological enhancements. [But they're still human, so there's a tinge of distaste as she elaborates.] They're not the same as us— As robots or androids at all.

[This is a distinction she is apparently very determined to make. She'd rather not be lumped into the same category as what's essentially a human with a bunch of cool upgrades? Thanks. Still, the fact she's calling them metal people has North giving her a funny look.]

You sound like someone who's never heard any of those terms before.

[It's. Not meant to be an insult, and yet.]

[Welp.]

... I hadn't. Before I came here, I mean. To the Circle.

[Would that explain it, then? Konoha is very used to this, at this point. There were very few people she'd encountered like herself, who didn't know what "phones" and "tv" and "the google" were... so at least she isn't new to feeling a bit like an idiot.]

There's no metal people in my world... not... really metal anything except swords... and mirrors?

[But wait- Robots or androids. 2B had gotten really testy when she'd said "robot", so.]

So for you, should I say "robot" or "android"... ?

[JUST TO BE SURE.]

... Huh. [Just like Konoha might have a hard time wrapping her mind around a world so technologically advanced, North is just. Internally having a moment at trying to picture a world where 1) there aren't androids and 2) people still use hecking swords. God.] Well, it's not that hard to get used to the terms once you've heard them enough times.

[Says North, who has a computer for a brain. Good job.]

I'm an android. Robots don't— [Hm. What's the best way to phrase this for her ye olde mind.] They don't look like the humans in the way that androids do.

[~The humans~.]

I've just been trying to say "metal people" at first so I don't mess up and offend someone...

[Was it working??? North still seemed a bit blunt, but maybe that was just... how she was???]

"Android" for you, then! I'll remember it.

[She'll try, anyway.]

So I guess you really don't need the kitchen...

Some people will get offended anyway. I wouldn't waste my time worrying about it. [Bluntly, punctuating that statement with a shrug. This is just how she is, unfortunately.] Trying to please everyone is just going to backfire on you in the end, you know.

[Moral of the story is that life sucks and then you die. Be an asshole to people once in a while. It's liberating.]

I won't, but I'm still stuck here. So what else is there?

I mean, I guess, but... I don't like it when people call me a horse... or a half-horse... I can deal with "centaur" I guess, but I really prefer "jinba"...

[So... she can at least try?

But this North lady is starting to sound quite a bit like a certain other lady in the Circle that Konoha is acquainted with, and arguing with her about the merits of being polite had never worked, so.]

Well... There's the forest... but you have to watch out for the faeries... and there's a big lake with a cave system past that... there's the baths, they're super big and convenient for washing and laundry-

[If she's not stopped, she'll rattle off everything she can.]

[Oh

my god.

North lets her have at it for a bit, but once it becomes clear she's rattling off everything she possibly can — she cuts in.]

Hey. How about you just show me, instead? That should be easier.

[will it tho]

[Oh- Whoops.

North's voice reminds Konoha that she'd maybe been rambling, and she has the wherewithal to look sheepish a moment before she points around in a few directions.]

Sure, I'll give you the tour! Where do you want to start?

[Whoops, indeed.

With no real preference, North ends up choosing one of the directions Konoha had pointed at at random... Or, at least, she vaguely gestures westbound.]

This way fine?

[This way. Whatever is this way.]

Of course!

[So they might have had a rocky start, but Konoha is still quite sure every new arrival should be given a decent tour of this new place, what with how confusing it could be. She wished she'd had someone to do that for her, so.]

So over here, there's a river that runs into the forest and to the lake... You'll need to watch out for the half-fish people.... And over here...

[And so, explaining along the way... North is dubiously lucky enough to receive the Konoha Tour.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

test drive meme # 4

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